Black Coat Runner Bean (Heirloom 70 Days)
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 inoculant at planting time aids in a larger harvest and more robust plants.