Painted Lady

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Silky, ribboned pods unfurl in a painterly blaze—cream and rose-pink streaks over a fresh green ground—so vivid they feel lit from within.

At about 70 days, ‘Painted Lady’ delivers tender, stringless runner beans with a crisp snap and a clean, sweet-bean flavor that shines in fresh salads and quick sautéed sides, and also holds its color beautifully for pickling. A true heirloom for gardeners who want both ornament and abundance on the trellis.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These runner beans are built for high-heat speed: the pods stay tender and sweet without turning woolly, so they shine either raw-light or in a fast sauté. Their color keeps beautifully, so pickling is especially gratifying—bright beans that crunch instead of collapsing.

Best Uses

quick sauté with garlic and butter for a glossy, still-crisp texture
toss raw or lightly blanched into salads where the pods keep their snap
short-brine pickling to lock in the cream-and-rose look and stay crunchy
finish with lemon and flaky salt as a warm side

Flavor Profile

clean sweet-bean flavor crisp snap with tender, ribbon-like bite silky pods that stay crisp rather than going starchy

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon butter olive oil parmesan dill

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease or pest problem for Phaseolus coccineus (Painted Lady beans), and how do I control it?

Bean plants (Phaseolus coccineus) commonly suffer from bean rust and fungal leaf spots, especially when leaves stay wet. Water at the base in the morning, remove heavily spotted leaves, and improve airflow by spacing plants to keep foliage drier. If the problem is active, use a labeled fungicide for beans according to the product directions, starting as soon as spots/rust first appear.

How often should I water Painted Lady beans during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod set (after the plants establish), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for the top 1–2 inches to dry slightly between waterings. In most home gardens that’s about 1–2 inches of water per week total (from rainfall and irrigation), increasing during hot, windy weather. Avoid overhead watering because wet foliage worsens rust and leaf spot.

How can I tell when Phaseolus coccineus (Painted Lady) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are fully developed but still tender—typically when pods feel swollen and snap easily rather than bending or remaining stringy. Pick frequently once they start producing to keep plants setting new pods, and plan for roughly 70 days from sowing to first harvest. If you want beans for dry shelling, leave pods on the plant until they dry to a crisp, papery texture before harvesting.