Bean : Runner Bean : Red Rum

Vegetable

• Crops in : 40 Days
• Ideal for : Children

Description

A very early cropper producing lots of pods and very little foliage, resulting in a tremendous crop of succulentm 15-20cm (6-8in) pods. Runner Bean Red Rum is excellent for organic gardeners as this variety is Halo Blight tolerant. This means it will keep on cropping whilst other varieties are going down with this disease. (Please Note: Seed saved from this hybrid will not come true.)

Sowing Instructions

Prefers to be grown in fertile, moist yet well drained soil which has had plenty of well rotted compost dug into it the previous autumn. For an early start sow seeds from mid spring in artificial heat (propagator, greenhouse, warm room) in peat pots and plant out after last expected frost. Outdoors do not sow until at least 10 days after last frost, 5cm (2in) deep. Sow 2 seeds every 30cm (12in) in rows 38cm (15in) apart.

Growing Instructions

Remove weaker seedlings after germination. Make sure your soil is warm and avoid it becoming baked hard. Provide poles, trellis or mesh for them to climb.

Aftercare

Water regularly and liquid feed every 14 days as the beans form. A thick mulch will help conserve moisture. Pick the beans regularly a little on the young side to ensure top quality and prolonged cropping. (60 days to harvest).

Nutritional Information

Runner beans are a good source of Vitamin C, folate, iron and have a high fibre content.

Kitchen Notes

Cook Runner Beans for the minimum of time until tender as one-third of vitamins and some flavour is lost if overcooked. Runner Beans are a good source of Vitamin C, folate and iron and have a high fibre content.

Caution

Please note that beans must be cooked before eating to avoid discomfort.