Sowing dates, regional timing, and variety picks for growing runner beans successfully across the UK.
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Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
Sowing & Planting Dates
| Method | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors (pots) | Late April – mid-May | 5cm deep, one per pot; 18–21°C; germination 7–14 days |
| Transplant outdoors | Late May – early June | After last frost; soil 12°C+ |
| Direct sow outdoors | Mid-May – mid-June | Only when soil is reliably warm; cover with fleece if nights are cold |
| Harvest begins | July (indoor-started) / Aug (direct) | Pick at 15–20cm every 2–3 days |
Top Varieties
- Enorma — RHS AGM, very long pods, excellent flavour
- Scarlet Emperor — classic, vigorous, vivid scarlet flowers
- Hestia — compact dwarf (45cm), no staking, good for containers and northern gardens
- White Lady — AGM, white-flowered, stringless, less attractive to birds
Browse all sowing dates in the UK vegetable planting calendar · Explore all UK vegetable growing guides
Relevant next steps
Plan The Timing Before You Sow
Use the planting window with a planner, seed-starting setup, and the full calendar so dates stay practical for your garden.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.