The Painted Lady Runner Bean is a beautiful heirloom vine known for its striking red and white flowers, attracting pollinators like hummingbirds, and producing tender, tasty green beans that are excellent fresh or cooked, plus speckled dried beans, requiring trellis support, plenty of water, and regular harvesting for best yield.
Key Characteristics
- Flowers: Gorgeous bi-colored blossoms (crimson/scarlet and white/pink) that are edible and great for salads.
- Vines: Vigorous climbers, reaching 8-10 feet, perfect for vertical gardening.
- Beans: Medium-sized, tender green pods with a sweet flavor, good cooked as snap beans or shelled.
- Seeds: Speckled mocha/tan beans that can be dried and used in winter dishes.
- Pollinators: Highly attractive to bees and hummingbird moths.
- Heirloom: An old, reliable variety valued for its ornamental and culinary qualities.
Growing Tips
- Sunlight: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade.
- Support: Needs a trellis, fence, or poles to climb.
- Soil: Requires rich, well-drained soil and consistent moisture.
- Planting: Sow outdoors after the last frost, or start indoors a few weeks prior, planting seeds 1″ deep.
- Watering: Essential, especially during flowering; keep soil evenly moist.
- Fertilizer: Use a low-nitrogen feed; too much nitrogen promotes leaf growth over beans.
- Harvesting: Pick regularly when young and tender; regular picking encourages more production.
Uses
- Green Beans: Sautéed, steamed, boiled, or added to stir-fries, curries, and risottos.
- Dried Beans: Cooked in soups and stews after soaking.
- Ornamental: The climbing vines and flowers make a beautiful living screen.
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