(P. coccineus) This is a real dandy of a runner bean, vigorously growing 8-10’ and bearing a profusion of showy bright red blossoms loved by butterflies and hummingbirds. Our son Rowan has grown many an “Emperor” shelter and they are a stunning sight to behold! Often grown just as an ornamental, the flowers are followed by long and slightly fuzzy green beans that, when picked young, are delicious with a rich nutty flavor. Immature bean seeds can be eaten as shelly beans, while mature dry beans are eaten like lima or kidney. Very productive over an extended period. Giant mottled purple/black seeds look like magic beans from Jack and the Beanstalk. Who knows where they’ll take you if you start climbing…70 days. UO

Packet size: 1 oz (~30 seeds)

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Direct seed after the last frost date when the soil has warmed.

Note: Beans prefer well-drained, warm soil.

PLANTING DEPTH:

SPACING:

3-5" between plants with 12-24" between rows*

*Pole beans require 5+' between rows.

EMERGENCE:

5-10 days @ soil temp 65-90F

LIGHT:

Full sun to part shade

FERTILITY:

Light to Moderate. Beans can produce their own usable nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that colonize specialized nodules in their roots. Too much soil fertility can cause excessive vegetative growth at the expense of pod set and maturity.
Beans prefer well-drained, warm soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Beans prefer warm soils and may rot at lower temperatures. This is particularly true for white-seeded varieties. You love beans. Patience.

It can be quite beneficial to mix bean seeds with commercially available bacterial "inoculants" to encourage the beneficial symbiotic relationship in the growing plant's root nodules, especially if growing on ground that hasn't been planted with beans before. This can increase yields and improve plant health.

Avoid picking/weeding beans when the plants are wet. This will help prevent the spread of disease.

Provide a trellis for pole beans.

White-seeded varieties are more susceptible to rot when seeded in cool, wet, early-season conditions.

Sow Snap Beans every few weeks for continued harvests.

Harvest dry beans when the pods are brown and dry.

These are LOVED by hummingbirds who often whir and dive all around them!

Bean, Pole Runner, 'Scarlet Emperor'