Runner Bean

Runner Bean: Stenner

Seed Story: Named after the late Brython Stenner from Cefn Cribwr in south Wales, who reselected it from ‘Enorma’ to produce this famous, prize winning exhibition variety which was king of the show bench throughout the 1970s and 80s. Fantastic in the kitchen too, the Stenner produces an abundant crop of delicious, deep green, slender pods that can grow over 40cm long. Like the Enorma, they grow nice and straight too….far easier to slice than curly beans! Plants are tall and bushy with the striking red flowers so associated with this species of bean. Like most runners, to avoid them getting stringy, pick the pods before the beans inside get too big. Any that do get a bit chunky, don’t just compost them, leave them on the plant until the end of the season, and you can then harvest and dry the seeds, using them in soups and casseroles over the winter.

Runner Bean: Montacute

Seed Story: These fantastic beans are named after the village in Somerset, where it is thought that the variety has been grown since the late 19th century, and they do really well for us here in west Wales.  The pod set is excellent, so they crop heavily, providing loads of sweet, succulent and tender beans throughout the season.  Plants are tall and bushy with the striking red flowers so associated with this species of bean.  Like most runners, to avoid them getting stringy, pick the pods before the beans inside get too big.  Any that do get a bit chunky, don’t just compost them, leave them on the plant until the end of the season, and you can then harvest and dry the seeds, using them in soups and casseroles over the winter.

Not quite as hardy as french beans, start your runners off indoors in late spring and don’t plant out until early summer as the soil won’t be warm enough before that.  They’ll need a need a slightly larger spacing too – about 9” to 1ft.  Plants can get quite heavy towards the end of the summer, so will be susceptible to strong winds – a good, firm support structure is therefore vital.  Pinching out the tops once they have reached to top of the structure will stop them getting too top heavy, and will encourage bushier growth, so more beans!

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Why not save your own seeds!? All our seeds are open pollinated, non-hybrid varieties.
See our seed saving guidelines here: Save Your Own Seeds

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Growing instructions – Runner Beans

Not quite as hardy as french beans, start your runners off indoors in late spring and don’t plant out until early summer as the soil won’t be warm enough before that.  Sow in modules with some seed compost and if there are mice around, cover them up before they germinate, as rodents love the seeds.  One hardened off, they’ll need a need a slightly larger spacing than french beans – about 9” to 1ft.  Dig in plenty of organic matter initially, and water regularly throughout the season.  Plants can get quite heavy towards the end of the summer, so will be susceptible to strong winds – a good, firm support structure is therefore vital, with canes or string to wind themselves around as they climb.  Most will find their own way up, but if any get a bit ‘lost’ you can simply wind them up yourself to begin with.  Make sure you wind them anti-clockwise though, otherwise they’ll just unwind themselves!  Pinching out the tops once they have reached to top of the structure will stop them getting too top heavy, and will encourage bushier growth, so more beans!

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Seed grown using agroecological principles. We are licenced to sell seed and issue plant passports. Reg number: 7710.