Runner Bean Varieties

There are numerous varieties of runner bean but only a few that I could recommend for the serious grower or connoisseur.

My best piece of advice would be that, whichever variety you choose, always buy disease free certified seeds from a reputable supplier.

As a commercial grower I used to use Suttons "Best of All" runner bean seeds.

The predominant colour of flower is red but there are white, pink and two tone varieties as well.

Suttons Seeds are probably the best known and oldest supplier of quality seeds.

Suttons seeds - Est. 1806

Suttons "Best of All"

A reliable plant and a heavy cropper of beans that are full of flavour.

More Info on Suttons Best of All Runner Beans

Enorma

Perfect for the village show the Enorma is a quality bean grown for exhibitions and shows. It is a very tender long and succulent bean and also a heavy cropper.

More Info on the Enorma Runner Bean

Scarlet Emperor

A very popular choice of runner bean. Reliable and a good flavoured bean.

More Info on the Scarlet Emperor Runner Bean

Aintree

British bred from the same stable so to speak as the Red Rum runner bean. Long and straight with a good flavour and when young are stringless and smooth.

More Info on the Aintree and Red Rum Runner Beans

Other Varieties Of Runner Bean

Butler - Stringless

Celebration - Salmon pink flowers

Hestia - Dwarf variety good resistance to disease

Lady Di - Popular with allotment growers

Painted Lady - Bi-coloured red and white flowers

Polestar - Smooth pods

White Apollo - White flowers

White Lady - White flowers

Streamline - Ideal for the not so attentive harvester

There are a few other varieties but these ones are a good start for any amateur.

All seeds and plants can be bought from Suttons Seeds, Unwins Seeds and Thompson & Morgan