WOW
I have been growing runner beans for over 50 years and make no secret about them being my favourite veg.
They are climbers and they will (with help) coil round and climb up just about anything
Canes are best of course but people can use or make any thing for them to coil round
Now the secret is is in the harvesting. They must be picked as soon as they are looking ready. (you will soon learn this)
Pick everything.
NEVER think that you will pick enough for one meal.
ONCE the beans are left to get 'stringy' or over sized they become ruined and inedible.
Better to waste (or better still give away) than leave what you do not need.
When growing for the kitchen you do not want the longest, fattest, biggest bean. You want a young tender bean.
Eat fresh. The beans will continue to flower and reproduce for a fairly long period. Once left to get hard the bean plant has completed it's reproductive cycle and wont reproduce as well.
Keep picking.
In a mild winter with the beans in a protected area, in the UK I have harvested into December.
Although some will argue. Fact is, a fresh crop needs to be planted each year for cooking
Although in mild climates the beans will grow for a much longer time. The best results for cooking are from the new bean stalk.
Yes you can let them go to seed and use the beans for stew or for replanting the following spring.
