Runner Bean Black Knight seeds

The 'Black Knight' runner bean is an old English variety obtained in the 1800s by Edmund Knight, Bishop of Shrewsbury. The climbing plant produces beautiful and large orange-red flowers. They are characteristic of the runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) which is also known as Scarlet Bean or Flower Bean for this reason. The flowers give way to numerous pods that can be consumed young and tender as snap beans. They then have a green bean flavour. The pods mature and become almost black and parchment-like, making them unfit for consumption. However, the seeds inside the pods are delicious fresh or dried. In this 'Black Knight' variety, they change from bright pink when fresh to dark brown speckled when dry.

Combine usefulness and beauty by inviting this beautiful runner bean 'Black Knight' into your vegetable garden, or your ornamental garden. Plan to sow from April to June to harvest from July to September. Each plant quickly reaches 2m (7ft) high, clinging to the support provided. Place several seeds in a hole at the base of each support. The seeds need to be buried at least 5cm (2in) deep in the soil to germinate. Even the cotyledon germinates underground before the first true leaves appear.

Whether consumed for its pod or its seed, the bean is a highly appreciated vegetable in gardens because it is very easy to grow. It is so reliable that gardeners know the exact date when they will have their first harvest, 60 days after sowing.

Discovered in the New World and acclimatised in Europe from the 16th century onwards, the bean has now become an essential legume in all world cuisines. Native Americans cultivated it for its dried seeds, but it was the Italians who first ate the whole, immature pod in the 18th century.
The bean is a climbing plant with indeterminate growth. Primitive varieties are all climbing and require support. Later, for practical reasons, dwarf varieties were selected, but all have tendrils that can wrap around a support. The runner bean, Phaseolus coccineus, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a tuberous taproot, not hardy, and grown as an annual. It is a legume species (Fabaceae family) native to the mountains of Central America and Mexico.

Harvest: Harvesting fresh seeds or young pods begins approximately 60 days after sowing. For fresh seeds, it should be done before the pods start to dehydrate and develop wrinkles. The seeds should barely take on their colour. For pod consumption, harvest every 2 or 3 days. Harvesting dried seeds involves cutting the entire plant, which should then be hung in a dry and airy place. The seeds can be shelled as needed.

Storage: Freezing pods is now the most common method of preservation. To do this, remove the stems, wash the pods, blanch them for 5 to 6 minutes in boiling water, then plunge them into cold water and dry them with a clean cloth. Once placed in a bag, the beans can be placed in the freezer at -18°C (-0.4°F). However, canning is regaining its popularity among an increasing number of consumers due to the inherent taste qualities of this preservation method. As with freezing, remove the stems, wash and blanch the beans, then place them in jars filled with boiling salted water. Close the jars and sterilise them in a pressure cooker or with a steriliser for 1 hour and 30 minutes over medium heat. To do this, completely cover the jars with water after securing them well.

Dried beans: When completely dry, bean seeds can be stored for up to a year if kept under good conditions, such as in airtight jars.

Gardener's tip:

Beans, like all members of the Fabaceae family, can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil through a plant-bacteria symbiosis. They can regenerate soils. Beans can be included in crop rotation after green manure. Traditionally, bean cultivation in Central and South America is associated with the cultivation of squash and corn, forming a beneficial triad. This association is called three sisters. Beans also pair well with aubergines, carrots, cabbages, potatoes, and radishes, as they protect each other. Avoid growing with alliums or fennels, as their growth is inhibited.

Spraying with nettle manure effectively combats aphid attacks and strengthens the plants.