Thompson & Morgan Runner Bean Summer Flowered Mixed 30 Seeds Packet

Bring a burst of colour and flavour to your garden with the Thompson & Morgan Runner Bean Summer Flowered Mixed 30 Seeds Packet. Each shows off a different flower colour against lush green foliage while producing plenty of tasty beans for your table. It is perfect for both ornamental borders and productive vegetable plots as a half-hardy annual that thrives in full sun and reaches up to three metres in height. How to grow: Sow runner bean seed indoors from mid April for transplanting later on, or direct sow outdoors from late May to July. Indoors, sow seed at a depth of 5cm (2") in 7.5cm (3") pots or trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 18-20C (64-68F) until germination which takes seven to 10 days. Once germinated, grow runner beans on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and runner bean plants are large enough to be transplanted. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over seven to 10 days before planting runner beans outdoors in rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun or semi shade with protection from strong winds. Avoid freshly manured soil which will promote lush foliage instead of beans. Alternatively direct sow runner beans outdoors at a depth of 5cm (2") and a distance of 30cm (12") apart. Plant runner beans in rows that are 1.5m (5') apart, or where space is limited, grow beans onto a wigwam structure. Runner beans require support from garden canes, strings or netting which should be put in place at the time of planting.