Runner Bean 'Hestia

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweetly perfumed and vividly fresh from the vine, Runner Bean ‘Hestia’ brings a graceful, long-bearing harvest with tender pods that hold their color and stay pleasantly crisp.

The beans develop with a smooth, succulent bite and a mild, garden-sweet flavor that shines in fresh use and also rewards warm roasting for deeper, caramel-kissed notes. Grow ‘Hestia’ for a steady, pole-climbing rhythm of slender pods—an elegant addition to the season’s most colorful legume displays.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Clumping

Botanical illustration of Runner Bean 'Hestia

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	Clumping
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

With a tender-crisp bite and a mild sweetness that doesn’t taste “starchy,” this runner bean is at its best when you cook fast enough to keep that snap. Roast it just until it browns at the edges and it picks up caramel-kissed depth without turning chewy.

Best Uses

quick sauté with garlic and lemon zest to keep pods crisp
flash-roasting until edges brown for caramel notes
toss into warm grain salads where they stay snappy
lightly pickled or blanched for crisp cold salads

Flavor Profile

sweet garden aroma mild, lightly buttery flavor tender-crisp snap with succulent texture roasting turns gently caramel-kissed

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil Parmesan butter ginger

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Phaseolus coccineus (runner beans), and what should I do if I see it?

Runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) commonly suffer from fungal leaf spot and blight, especially when foliage stays wet. Remove badly affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants and avoiding overhead watering, and water at the base in the morning. If problems persist, apply a copper-based fungicide label-approved for beans at the first signs of spotting, repeating according to the label.

How often should I water Phaseolus coccineus during peak growth and flowering?

During the main growing phase, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for consistent moisture as the plants flower and set pods. Water deeply about 2–3 times per week in typical conditions, then adjust to weather so the top few centimeters don’t dry out completely. If the soil is drying fast (hot, windy sites), you may need more frequent deep watering rather than light sprinkles.

How can I tell when Phaseolus coccineus runner beans are ready to harvest?

Harvest runner beans when pods are young and tender, usually about 2–3 weeks after flowering begins, while seeds inside are still small and not bulging. Typical readiness is around 70 days from sowing for the overall crop maturity, but pod quality matters more than the calendar. Pick frequently (every few days) to keep plants producing new pods.