Plant of the Day
Wednesday 19 June 2019
This magnificent climbing frame has been created in the productive garden for Phaseolus coccineus (runner bean, scarlet runner bean). This perennial vine from Central America has a tuberous root but is usually treated as an annual in Britain. The plant was introduced for its scarlet flowers but later it was grown for the edible pods. The plants need large amounts of water when the flower buds start to appear and trenches are dug in the autumn to add organic matter to retain moisture. The cultivars being grown here included Phaseolus coccineus ‘Painted Lady’, an old variety with red and white flowers and considered one of the best flavoured beans, and the heavy cropper Phaseolus coccineus ‘Scarlet Emperor’.
Jill Raggett
