GOLDEN SUNSHINE RUNNER BEAN SEEDS

Phaseolus coccineus

Possibly the most ornamental of ornamental beans, Golden Sunshine features bright chartreuse foliage and brilliant scarlet blossoms that are completely edible! Flowers give way to boring green pods that are fairly inedible, but at the shelling stage contain incredibly pretty coral-pink beans!!

Golden Sunshine is a truly awesome ornamental edible, but is somewhat less vigorous than typical Runner Beans. Give these beans good soil in full sun and fertilize with dilute liquid comfrey and side-dress with compost. Water frequently for best performance.

Start these Runner Beans indoors 6 weeks before the last frost: sow 2 seeds per 3" pot 1/2" deep in moist soil; press soil to keep seeds snug and mist generously with warm water; cover with plastic to maintain moisture; kept warm (70F) and moist in bright light, seeds will germinate within a week. Thin to a single plant per 3" pot and grow on in bright light at room temperature. Seedlings will benefit from very dilute fish and seaweed extracts applied weekly. Water frequently. Transplant to larger containers if seedlings threaten to become rootbound. Transplant outdoors when soil temperatures are 65F. Provide a good trellis. Plants will grow to around 6'.

Packet contains at least 15 seeds.

Photo from the excellent Rotary Botanical Gardens' blog.