Unwins Runner Bean Lady Di Organic Seeds

• Easy to grow

Unwins Organic Runner Bean Lady Di Seeds produce a stringless variety of bean. Lady Di is an attractive, red-flowered variety that creates beans with a delicious, fleshy texture. The beans are quite slow to develop seeds, but this results in long fleshy pods that can stay on the plant longer without becoming tough. It's a heavy cropping bean and will also provide you with a long harvest of stringless beans. Classed as an RHS Pollinator Organic Sow: April to June Harvest: July to September Sow Indoors For an earlier crop, sow individual seeds in 8 cm pots of potting compost. Keep the pots on a sunny windowsill, in a propagator, or in a greenhouse at a minimum temperature of 12°C. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged. Hardening Off / Planting Out Gradually acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions over 2–3 weeks before planting out from late May onwards, once frost risk has passed. Provide support with canes, placed in situ and tied together before sowing. Canes can be arranged in double rows, sloping inwards, 15 cm apart, or in a 'wigwam' structure. Alternatively, use a container at least 75 cm in diameter. Plants will climb and twine naturally. Sow Outdoors Sow direct, 5 cm deep, in the desired harvest position next to a cane support or in a large container once frost risk has passed. Aftercare Runner beans require plenty of water for a good crop. Water generously in dry spells. When plants are in full flower, an occasional mid-day spray with a fine hose encourages flower set and bean production. They are generally disease-free and thrive in sunny, sheltered positions. Advice Soil should be well-manured before planting. Runner bean seeds are sensitive to cold, wet soils and will not germinate in poor conditions. Pick pods young for best flavour. Surplus crops can be frozen: slice and blanch for 2 minutes, drain, cool, and bag for freezing.