The Black Coat Runner Bean is one of the oldest runner bean seeds still available to grow in your garden today. Vines grow to 6-7’ producing attractive glowing crimson flowers. Mature pods encase large lustrous black seeds. Young pods can be used fresh like green beans, large filled out pods as a shelling bean, or allow to dry on the plant and use as a dry bean.
PLANTING
Phaseolus coccineus
Germination: 7-14 days
Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 60-75ºF
Seed Sowing Depth: 1” deep
Starting Indoors: 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1-2 seeds per cell/pot. Provide 70-80ºF soil temperature. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 8-12" apart.
Sowing Outdoors: After the last frost with soil temperatures above 55-60ºF. Sow 4-6” apart, thin to 8-12". Planting in soil under 60ºF results in poor germination.
How much does a packet plant: 8-10 foot single row
Harvest: Young tender snap beans until they become fibrous; steamed, baked, boiled, or sautéed. Young seeds can be shelled and cooked like lima beans. Dried beans take a long time to cook and can be soaked 6-8 hours before cooking. Add the edible flowers to salads
Tips: Provide support with a trellis, fence, or poles. Keep beans harvested to encourage more flowers. The Black Coat Runner Bean should be grown in light, well-drained soil and should provide adequate, even moisture, especially at flowering time. Dry soil can result in low yields and fibrous pods. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen which results in a surplus of foliage and low, delayed pod growth. Adding at planting time aids in a larger harvest and more robust plants.
