Bean, Pole (Scarlet Emperor)

Botanical Interests Scarlet Emperor Bean Pole Seeds

With such magnificent clusters of rich-red, edible flowers, this variety is predominantly used as a flowering screen, vine, or fence cover. Little known is that this runner bean has an extremely rich flavor when picked young and can be shelled for green or dried beans when pods mature.

Sowing Information:

• Light: Full sun
• When to Start Inside: Not recommended; bean seedlings are sensitive to root disturbance.
• When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 65°F, ideally 70°–85°F. Successive Sowings: Every 7 to 14 days up to 80 days before your average first fall frost date. NOTE: In very hot summer areas, skip sowing as high heat approaches; temperatures consistently above 90°F will prevent beans from forming.
• Seed Depth: Plant seeds 1 inch deep
• Seed Spacing: A group of 1 seeds every 6 inches
• Row Spacing: 36 inches
• Thinning: Not required
• Days to Germinate: 6-12 days
• Days to Maturity: 75 days

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod "snaps" or breaks in half cleanly. This is when the seeds have just begun to form and the pods are several inches long (depending on the variety). Hold the stem with one hand, and the pod with the other hand to avoid pulling off branches, which will continue to produce. At season's end, plants are great compost material if they are disease-free.
• Variety Info: When young, 4"–6" long, flattened, dark green; used as snap bean. When mature, up to 12" long pods used for shelling.
• Attributes: Attracts Hummingbirds, Frost Sensitive