Runner beans and peas

Sow peas from February (under cover) or March (outside), and runner beans from mid-April (under cover) once you can keep them frost-free. Give both something to climb, keep the roots moist, and pick every few days so they keep cropping. Runner beans won't survive frost, and frost dates vary a lot across the UK, so plant out by your local conditions rather than the calendar.

At a glance

	Runner beans	Peas
Difficulty	One of the easiest crops to grow	Straightforward; mice and pigeons are the main threats
Sow	Indoors mid-April to May; outdoors late spring to mid-summer	Indoors February or March; outdoors March to June
Depth	5cm	About 5cm
Spacing	15cm apart, one per cane	7.5cm apart (tall varieties)
Harvest	Pick every two to three days	Pick regularly
Protection and support	2.5m canes or poles; no frost	Netting, wire or pea sticks; net against pigeons
Rotation group	Peas, beans and onions	Peas, beans and onions

Figures from the RHS. The sowing calendar shows the months for your region band.

Overview and difficulty

The RHS calls runner beans one of the easiest crops to grow. Peas start earlier in the year and need less height. Both climb, both like plenty of moisture, and both crop for longer if you keep picking.

Conditions

Runner beans want a sunny, sheltered spot. Fork in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure first, at least two bucketfuls per square metre. Peas go outside once the soil has warmed to about 10°C.

Space and kit

• Runner beans: bamboo canes or hazel poles about 2.5m tall, set in a double row 15–30cm apart, or five or more tied as a wigwam.
• Tall peas: netting or chicken wire fixed to posts or canes. Some varieties reach 1.8m and get top-heavy.
• Short peas: pea sticks (twiggy prunings) pushed in between the plants.
• Netting against pigeons.

Sowing and planting

Runner beans. For an early crop, sow indoors from mid-April to May, on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator. You can also sow outdoors from late spring to mid-summer, 5cm deep and 15cm apart, one at the foot of each cane. Plant indoor-raised plants out once there's no longer any risk of frost.

Peas. The main outdoor season is March to June. For an early start, sow indoors in February or March, up to three seeds per pot about 5cm deep. Outside, space tall varieties 7.5cm apart in a single row, or a double row with 30cm between the lines. Mice take newly sown pea seed, so indoor sowing is often safer.

Routine care

• Water runner beans well. They crop best when their roots stay moist, especially once they flower and form pods. The watering guide has tips.
• Keep netting taut and check it for holes, so birds don't get caught.

Common problems

• Slugs and snails go for young runner bean plants, so protect them early. See our slugs guide.
• Black aphids can be a nuisance on runner beans if they get going.
• Poor pod set on runner beans is common, especially early in the season.
• Mice take pea seed sown outside.
• Pea moth caterpillars feed inside the pods, and the damage often only shows when you shell them.
• Pigeons eat pea plants. Netting is the only certain protection.

Harvest and storage

Runner beans. Pick every two to three days. Once pods are left to mature, the plants stop flowering and no more pods form. If you're away, ask a plot neighbour to pick for you and keep what they take.

Peas. Pick regularly, or the plants stop flowering and producing pods. Pick mangetout and sugar snaps at about 7.5cm long, as the peas inside start to form.

Smaller spaces

Dwarf runner beans grow to about 45cm and suit pots 30–45cm wide, though they give a smaller crop. Climbing runner beans need a heavy pot about 75cm wide and 45cm deep so it doesn't topple. Peas can go in containers too: sow them 7.5cm apart and 5cm deep.

FAQs

When can I plant runner beans out?

Once there's no longer any risk of frost where you are. That date varies a lot across the UK, so watch your local forecast.

Why are my runner beans flowering but not making beans?

Poor pod set is a common problem, especially early in the season. Keep the roots well watered once flowering starts.

How tall do pea supports need to be?

It depends on the variety. Some tall peas reach 1.8m, while short ones only need pea sticks. Check the packet.

Related guides and your next step

Next step: choose this year's bed for peas and beans (they go with onions in a simple rotation) and sort out canes and pea sticks over winter, so they're ready before sowing time.

• Slugs and snails
• Fruit cages and netting
• Crop rotation: a simple 4-year plan