Latin |
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Phaseolus coccineus
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When To Start |
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Mid-May to the beginning of July. Try to plant during a warm dry spell. Soil must be warm -if it is not warm enough, seeds will rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide.
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Preparing the Seeds |
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Using inoculant on seeds helps growth. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a continuous harvest, plant at 3 week intervals. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days depending on soil temperature.
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Growing Tips |
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If planted in a well-drained site with protection for the roots from frost over the winter, runner beans can be grown as a perennial. In late autumn when the stalks are thoroughly dry cut the plant back to just 3 or 4 inches off the ground. Cover with autumn leaves, straw or garden trimmings to give frost protection. Then in the spring watch as the beans get an early and vigorous start. Every year the vines will grow biggger and faster while producing even more beans than before.
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Insects |
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Did you know that in Canada it's bumblebees that pollinate runner beans? The internal structure of the flower is such that other bees are unable to access the pollen and nectar. Only bumblebees have the strength to force their way in. In Mexico where runner beans grow wild hummingbirds and bumblebees work the flowers together. If you plant your runner beans every year in the same spot or follow our instructions for growing them as perennials then you too might find hummingbirds drinking from the runner bean flowers.
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