Painted Lady Runner Bean (Heirloom 65 Days)

Heirloom. Attractive sprays of scarlet and white edible flowers, loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, turn into young edible pods that are thick, meaty with an extra sweet flavor. Mellow flavored seeds can be cooked or left to dry for storing. Species originated in the mountains of central America and has been cultivated for over 2000 years.  The Painted Lady Runner Bean is hardy to zone 7 but in cooler regions, you can dig up the roots and store for next season for earlier flowering. 

25 seeds

PLANTING

Phaseolus coccineus

Germination: 7-14 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 60-75ºF

Seed Sowing Depth: 1” deep 

Starting Indoors: 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1-2 seeds per cell/pot.  Provide 70-80ºF soil temperature. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 8-12" apart.

Sowing Outdoors: After the last frost with soil temperatures above 55-60ºF. Sow 4-6” apart, thin to 8-12". Planting in soil under 60ºF results in poor germination. 

How much does a packet plant: 8-10 foot single row 

Harvest: Young tender snap beans until they become fibrous; steamed, baked, boiled, or sautéed. Young seeds can be shelled and cooked like lima beans. Dried beans take a long time to cook and can be soaked 6-8 hours before cooking. Add the edible flowers to salads

Tips: Provide support with a trellis, fence, or poles. Keep beans harvested to encourage more flowers. Grow in light, well-drained soil, provide adequate, even moisture, especially at flowering time. Dry soil can result in low yields and fibrous pods. Do not over-fertilize the Painted Lady Runner Bean with nitrogen, which results in a surplus of foliage and low, delayed pod growth. Adding inoculant at planting time aids in a larger harvest and more robust plants.