Bean - Shinshu Runner

Phaseolus coccineus
Runner Bean
75 Days Fresh, 105 Days Dry
Germination: 100% 01/24

This might be the largest bean out there. The seeds are huge, about two to three times the size of a regular runner bean. The vines are big too, up to 12 feet long with solid red flowers that are very popular with hummingbirds. Pods produce two to six black speckled lavender seeds. You can use the pods fresh, but I think these really stand out as a dry bean because the size is such a novelty. Really impressive in chili or soups where it will dwarf every other bean in the pot. They mature a little on the late side in my region, so I'm selecting for earliness in an attempt to increase the amount of pods that dry down on the plant before frost.

2024 Update: Runner beans are a little easier for insects (and hummingbirds!) to cross-pollinate than their common bean cousins, so I've always maintained strict isolation with all the runner beans I grow. This past year I had a couple Shinshu plants that produced white seeds and white flowers, so I am going on the assumption it was either a mutation or some other natural genetic expression and not the result of an outcross. I've removed them from the population, and will be keeping a closer tab on these beans going forward. I'm curious if anyone else had white-flowered plants show up - feel free to let me know if you're so inclined.

As you might imagine, I'll be planting the white seeds this year to see what happens. I'll post an update when the plants come in this summer.

Our original stockseed was sourced from Dylana Kapuler and Mario DiBenedetto of Peace Seedlings.