Runner beans in pots?

nikkiuk

Hello!
I'm a very new wannabe gardener! Everything I do will have to be in pots/bags because not only is my garden very tiny, but also we may be moving within the year (and we've only been here a month!!)

Anyway, I have been reading this board with interest and have loads of ideas for what I want to do, but was wondering if I would be able to plant runner beans?
I love them but they are quite expensive in the shops and I'd love to have a go at growing my own.

Many thanks.

misskool

Yes you can grown them in pots, look for varieties which say patio vegetable on them. You might need to get some sticks so they can climb.

Lotus-eater

The bigger the pot the better. I would have thought that any type would grow OK in a pot, although obviously not as good as in the open ground.
If you get climbing ones you will need to have canes, if you get dwarf you won't. But go for climbing, you get a much better crop.

Invalidation

Runner beans do need a decent amount of water though !!

[Deleted User]

I grew a lot of dwarf runner beans called hesta last year, I just put quite a few in a large bucket type pot with holes at the bottom They don`t need staking, looked attractive with their masses of red flowers and were very very productive

shellysue

if you put a few beans in a pot that you can hang or place somewhere high up the climbing beans become trailing/hanging beans;)
Slightly fatal if you have them near the door as I just snak on them:rotfl:

Lotus-eater

Invalidation wrote: »

Runner beans do need a decent amount of water though !!

Yeah, I would put a load of soaked scrunched up newspaper at the bottom of the pot and try to keep it damp.

nikkiuk

Thanks for all the replies and the helpful information! I can't wait to get started.

NoelleV

Make sure you weight the pots (with stones) as they can have a habit of falling over once the plants get big. Especially if they're in a slightly exposed area!

forgotmyname

I bought some dwarf french beans (speedy) 7 weeks from planting to picking according to the label.

Cant wait to try them.

zarazara

I successfully grew a crop of runner beans in a half barrel last year. 6 plants in all. plently of water and fertilizer. they cropped well.