Runner Bean White Lady

White Lady is a bit of a hidden gem at the end of the runner bean row. It’s earned an RHS Award of Garden Merit for good reason – this variety sets well even in hotter weather and copes better with dry spells than most. (Mind you, it still won’t bean in bone-dry soil – a drink now and then is still needed!)

If you like to make two sowings, White Lady is a great choice – either as an early starter or for extending your harvest into the autumn. Those smooth, stringless beans hang in generous clusters, just waiting to show off their top-notch flavour. It’s a favourite of gardener Anne Swithenbank... and one of ours too.

To be an AGM winner means that this variety has been outstanding in trials: reliable and with great garden performance

SOW & GROW: start your seeds from April to July, once the danger of frost has passed. We like to start runners in pots, seed depth 25-50mm.  When they show signs of wanting to climb harden off and plant out. You can sow straight into the ground too — just be sure your canes are in place first!

They like rich soil, so digging in some organic matter earlier in spring gives them a real boost and helps them cope in dry weather. Give each plant its own cane, spaced about 20cm apart. You might need to help them twine at first, but they’ll soon get the hang of it.

Pinching out the growing tip when plants are about 25cm tall helps encourage bushier growth. With the right conditions, you’ll be picking beans around 12–14 weeks after sowing. While they’re fairly drought tolerant, they’ll still appreciate water at the base — old bath or sink water is fine, as long as it’s not too soapy.

EAT & ENJOY: pick the pods young and you can simply top and tail them, no need to slice. Fresh to the plate, they’re a flavour to savour — try with a drizzle of lemon juice and a scattering of their edible white flowers. All runner beans freeze well too: just slice, blanch (if you can), and bag them in meal-sized portions ready to cook straight from frozen.