Snowstorm Runner Beans Vegetables Seeds - West Coast Seeds

PRODUCT DETAILS

Snowstorm is an improved runner bean with clusters of showy white flowers that are followed by long, sweet, tender pods. The pods are straight and smooth, and stringless if harvested at 20-25cm (8-10"") long, but will mature to a full 30cm (12"") in length. The mature beans can be dried for use in soups and stews all winter long. Grow Snowstorm runner beans up a tall, strong trellis, and it will reach 3m (10') or higher by mid-summer. Snowstorm is a winner of the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.

• Matures in 65-75 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)
• Very productive
• Ideal for balconies, trellises, and screens
• Open-pollinated seeds
• Matures in 65-75 days

All About Snowstorm

• Latin:

  Phaseolus coccineus. Family: Fabaceae

• Difficulty:

  Easy

• We Recommend:

  Scarlet Emperor (BN127). Tall to the point of being massive, these vines just keep growing. Starting in mid-summer the plants are festooned in brilliant scarlet flowers – and then come the beans by the bushel.

• Season & Zone:

  Season: Warm season. Exposure: Full-sun

• Timing:

  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds will rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C (70-90°F).

• Starting:

  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm (3-4″) apart and 3.5cm (1½”) deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m (6-8′) tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

• Growing:

  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Well-drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m (10′) of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure may cause poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and avoid touching the leaves while they are wet.

• Harvest:

  Beans can be picked when plump-looking. You may dry beans to preserve them, or cook them soon after harvesting. You must ensure that you cook these beans thoroughly; raw runner beans contain lectin, a toxin that is removed by the cooking process.

• Seed Info:

  In optimal conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years.