Perrenial runner beans?
Barbara Carter
Posts: 15
in Fruit & veg
My neighbouring allotmenteer always grows fantastic runner beans and this year he has some that originated last year.He didn't dig them up and they just started to grow again.When he pulled a couple up they had formed big tubers,he gave these to someone else and they have grown back as well.He is going to leave them in again this winter and cover them with a mulch just in case we have a cold winter to see if they come up again.
I wondered if anyone else has done this as I wouldn't have thought it possible seeing as how beans are pretty sensitive to the cold.I am going to try leaving my climbing french beans to see what happens.
0
Posts
I always leave my runner beans in the ground over Winter as they release nitrogen back into the soil. This year I noticed some new growth when I finally pulled up the remaining roots so I guess if it's mild they will carry on growing although one sharp frost will put paid to them so if you're going to try this make sure they are kept wrapped up. Although we treat most veg as annuals, many are perennial in their true state.
Yes, I've found them growing again after a mild winter. I did try allowing a couple to grow on one year, but they didn't produce as well as newly sown runner beans.
They are perennial but like pelargoniums they don't usually survive our winters.
Blame this on global warming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaseolus_coccineus