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Phaseolus coccineus - L.

Runner Bean

Author	L.	Botanical references	200
Family	Leguminosae	Genus	Phaseolus
Synonyms	Phaseolus multiflorus - Lam.
Known Hazards	Large quantities of the raw mature seed are poisonous[10, 65]. The toxins play a role in protecting the plant from insect predation.
Range	Southern N. America - Mexico.
Habitat	Not known
Edibility Rating	4 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 3m by 1m at a fast rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Czar'

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Seedpod.

Immature seedpods - raw or cooked[1, 2, 37, 46]. They have a pleasant mild flavour and are widely used as a vegetable in many areas of the world. They can be added to salads, cooked as a vegetable or added to soups, stews etc[183]. The immature seed is used like shelled beans as a vegetable[183]. The protein-rich mature seeds can be dried and stored for future use. They need to be thoroughly cooked before being eaten in order to destroy a toxic principle. They are soaked for 12 hours prior to use and are eaten boiled or added to soups etc. The seed can also be ground into a powder and added to cereal flours for making protein-enriched bread etc[183]. Flowers - raw. A bean-like taste[177, 183]. Young leaves - cooked and used as a potherb[183]. Root - cooked. Rich in starch[183]. Another report says that the root is poisonous[2],

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a warm sheltered sunny position in a rich well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season[1, 16, 37, 200]. Dislikes heavy, wet or acid soils[16]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7[200]. The runner bean is commonly cultivated in many parts of the world for its edible seeds and immature seedpods, there are many named varieties[183]. Most varieties are climbing plants but some dwarf forms have been developed[200]. Plants are perennials but are often grown as annuals, especially in the temperate zone. Plants flower under long day conditions, which is ideal for temperate regions[200]. When grown for their edible pods, the immature pods should be harvested regularly in order to promote extra flower production and therefore higher yields[200]. The perennial roots will survive mild winters outdoors in many parts of the country, especially if given a protective mulch in late autumn, they will then give an earlier but lighter crop the following year. They can also be dug up in late autumn and stored like dahlias in a cool but frost free place over winter and replanted in the following spring. The plants might need some protection from slugs since these creatures adore the young shoots in the spring[K]. Runner beans grow well with carrots, cauliflowers, cucumbers, cabbage, leek and celeriac[18, 20]. They are inhibited by alliums and fennel growing nearby[18, 20]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. Germination should take place within 10 days. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring though it may not ripen its seed in a cool summer.

Cultivars

'Best of All'

The long pods, produced in clusters, can be thinned to produce pods up to 45cm long[183]. These pods are of fine favour, quality and texture[183]. They freeze well[183]. A vigorous, reliable, heavy-cropping cultivar[183].

'Butler'

The pods are stringless along their entire length, they are also fibreless in the thick flesh surrounding the seed itself[183]. The first harvest of young pods can be made within 65 days from sowing the seed, these pods can be up to 30cm long[183]. The juicy pods remain in the edible stage for longer than any other cultivar[183]. A fast, productive plant, it sets well even in hot weather[183]. The flower clusters are ornamental, with a very heavy bloom to stem ratio[183].

'Czar'

A fine old white-flowered cultivar that produces long, tender, mild-flavoured pods for eating green[183]. If left to dry, it will produce a crop of plump, fine-tasting white 'butter beans'[183]. This is one of the cultivars favoured for freezing[183].

'Emergo Stringless'

A whit-flowering form, it produces an abundance of pods 20 - 30cm long with tender and flavourful beans[183]. The first crops can be ready within 87 days of sowing the seed[183]. Well suited to gardens in the north of the USA, it can be planted earlier than most other cultivars and thrives in relatively cool conditions[183]. Plants can grow more than 3 metres tall[183].

'Hammond's Dwarf'

The pods are about 20cm long, when picked young they can be used like snap beans, whilst older pods can be used like shell beans[183]. A true dwarf, non-climbing cultivar growing up to 45cm tall[183]. It needs no staking, providing the pods are picked regularly[183]. Occasional plants revert to the climbing form and will need to have their shoot tips pinched out[183].

'Red Knight'

The long stringless pods are smoother than the rough-textured older cultivars and ripen early[183]. The can be picked young as snap beans, or be left to ripen and used as dried beans[183]. A very heavy cropping plant, producing a crop all summer long, the first pods can be ready to harvest within 70 days of sowing the seed[183]. The vines grow up to 3.5 metres tall and are covered in crimson blossoms[183]. This is one of the best modern cultivars[183].

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Staple seed crops from perennials..

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[10] Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8
A small book, reasonable but not very detailed.

[16] Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0
A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.

[18] Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979
Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.

[20] Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Fairly good.

[37] Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878
Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[65] Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984 ISBN 0723408394
Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Phaseolus coccineus

Tony Oakes-Phillips Sat Oct 6 2007

It is nice to find out that all the runner bans that have escaped picking (or grown too large) can be dried for use in the winter. Culinary question, what type of bean do they resemble when looking for recipes to use them in? Cheers, Tony O-P.

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