Pole Bean, Painted Lady Runner

Give runner beans sun, rich soil and plenty of water – they particularly thrive in cool wet summers. Pick the pods regularly when young, tender and stringless, to keep the harvest coming through summer and into autumn.

Most green beans do best when planted about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in the rows with 3 feet between the rows. After planting, be sure to firm the seed bed with your hand, garden tool or cultipacker.

What's wonderful about vegetable plants, is that a lot of their flowers are edible. Such is the bean. Their flower tastes just like a bean! Their colors vary, too.