Runner beans are delicious, nutritious and easy to grow. When picked young, they have great flavour, texture and succulence – so different to the stringy beans you find in the shops. They’re also pretty enough to grow as an annual climber in the flower border.

Indoors, sow seed from mid March at a depth of 5cm in 7.5cm pots or trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or inside a plastic bag until germination. Once germinated, grow runner beans on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and runner bean plants are large enough to be transplanted. Harden off before planting outdoors in rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun or semi shade with protection from strong winds.

Alternatively direct sow runner beans outdoors from late April at a depth of 5cm and a distance of 30cm apart. Plant runner beans in rows that are 1.5m apart, or where space is limited, grow beans onto a wigwam structure. Plants require support from canes, strings or netting which should be put in place when planting.

Water runner beans regularly, particularly as the flowers develop, and provide a liquid feed every 14 days during mid-summer. Pick the beans regularly and a little on the young side to ensure top quality and prolonged cropping.

When it comes time to clear your runner bean plants in autumn, simply cut them down and “leave the roots in the ground,” runners are perennial plants and, with a good mulch, they “may reappear next spring with strong growth and multiple stems.”