This is a place to share your experiences growing runner beans in 2026!
We encourage any and all discussion around growing runner beans, but especially appreciate reports on growing out the 2026 GTS Seed Share mix. Also please consider saving seeds from your best plants and returning them to the Seed Share program! Runner beans are usually one of the most in demand crops.
Here’s a sample of the mix I’ve been working on
I’m also excited to try out these runners from @anna and @julia.dakin
Huge chonkers from Japan (Giant Shinshu?) and purple runners from Mexico (ayocote morado?)
Also curious to hear experiences growing runners as a perennial from the tuberous root. I dug some out and stored them indoors for the first time this winter, we’ll see what happens.
I had a strong early start with my runners last year, but then chose not to water them much through a particularly dry early summer here and they mostly stunted so my seed crop was small. Because of this I saved it all to replant this year and didn’t return any seed. I think I’ll compromise and provide a bit more irrigation to improve yields this year and hopefully have enough to return.
I overwintered a few roots in my shed and planted them out alongside my direct seeded plants last year and they underperformed compared to my direct seeded plants, but I had treated them kind of roughly when digging them up so that might have impacted their performance (only 1 out of 3 roots survived to produce seed). This winter I left all of my plants undisturbed and will plant my runners in a different area so if any roots survived the winter they’ll be obvious.
Best seeds from each vine saved for my 2026 crop.
I am curious whether anyone has grown the GTS mix (or is planning to) in a hot and humid climate? They’re supposed to be better suited to cool climates, right?
Clearly I haven’t grown runner beans before. I considered trying them this year, but decided to wait and hear others experiences before potentially “wasting” one of my 10 packets on them.
For those that grow these instead of common beans, I’d be interested in hearing why you prefer them. Growth habits? Taste? Climate suitability?
