Sunset runner / Scarlett runner – surprise mix

💗 All our seeds are grown organically in Australia -> What makes our seeds special? 💗

• With the help of little hands, one batch of sunset runner and scarlett runner seeds may have gotten a little mixed up. This is a surprise mix which could feature any mix of the two!
• Sunset runner beans are the same as Scarlett runner beans but with salmon, peachy coloured flowers. Scarlett runner on the other hand, as their name suggests, have bright red scarlett flowers. Both are a perennial and are a valuable addition to an ornamental or edible garden. Being a vigorous grower, they will easily cover an arch or wall to create lush greenery in your summer garden. The beans are some of the largest we grow stretching up to 30cm. They have a delicious nutty tender taste.
• They produce all summer in tropical areas with humidity. In drier climates (e.g. Vic), your main harvest will be in autumn when the weather is wetter, as the flowers need humidity to set pods. They really get going when your other beans have finished so are valuable for extending your bean season.
• Can be used as (1) Fresh bean – needs to be picked small and young otherwise it can be tough (2) Dried bean – leave the bean on the vine to ripen fully and dry. Once fully dry, shell and store in a jar and use as a dried bean in winter soups and stews.
• Size: This is a tall climbing bean – growing to 2m+ and will need a tall trellis, or be planted against a shed wall, fence or why not try a living teepee? Great in large pots or grow bags. TIP: Pinch out growing shoots before your bean has reached the top of your trellis to encourage it to branch out.
• Sowing: Sow seed indoors in early spring in individual punnets and plant out once the risk of frost has passed in your area. Do not soak bean seed as this risks rotting – plant into damp seed raising mix and don’t water again until the soil feels dry. Check out our corn seed sowing guide for a free and easy trick for sowing into individual punnets. Or sow direct in garden beds in spring and summer, once the risk of frost has passed in your area.
• Planting: Grows well in full sun or part-shade. Space seeds around 20cm apart.  Beans fix nitrogen from the atmosphere so don’t need a lot of added fertiliser, but do appreciate a soil enriched with compost, worm castings and gentle manures (cow, sheep, horse).
• Perennial: Scarlet runner are also known as a 7 year bean as they will reshoot for many years. In winter when plants turn yellow, cut down vine at base. Mulch the soil heavily over winter and beans will reshoot next season. Don’t forget to label, to avoid accidentally digging up the roots!

Please note seeds can be shipped across Australia, but due to quarantine restrictions we cannot ship seed to WA or Tasmania.