Turn your supports into a wall of flowers and flavour with RHS Runner Bean Firestorm Seeds by Mr Fothergills. Firestorm is a modern British bred variety that combines the best qualities of runner beans and French beans to give you tender stringless pods with a wonderfully sweet taste and reliable setting even when the weather is not playing nicely.
Unlike many traditional runners, Firestorm produces pods that stay smooth and stringless for longer so you can enjoy them at a generous size without losing texture. The beans are deliciously sweet and tender which makes them perfect for family meals. Pick young for the very finest flavour, then steam, boil lightly or slice into stir fries and mixed vegetable dishes.
Firestorm has been bred to set pods well even in poor conditions such as hot dry spells or cooler dull weather which often cause other runners to sulk. This means you can look forward to consistent yields from mid summer right through to autumn. It is an excellent choice for UK gardens and allotments where summers can be unpredictable.
The plants themselves are highly decorative. Vibrant red flowers smother the vines, attracting bees and other pollinators, and turning wigwams, arches and fences into striking features. Firestorm is ideal for vertical gardening in smaller spaces or for adding height and drama to the vegetable plot.
Sow indoors from April to May in pots of moist compost or sow direct outside from May once the soil has warmed and all risk of frost has passed. Provide sturdy canes, a frame or netting for the plants to climb. Keep well watered especially in dry weather and pick pods regularly to encourage continuous cropping.
Each packet contains 40 seeds which is plenty for a generous row or an impressive teepee of beans. As part of the RHS endorsed range by Mr Fothergills, Runner Bean Firestorm has been selected for reliability, quality and garden performance so you can grow with confidence.
Pair these seeds with AllotMate Essentials plant supports, jute twine and soil improving composts to create a productive and beautiful runner bean display.
Firestorm is one of those varieties that makes you feel like a very successful gardener. Even when the summer is too hot, too cold or simply too unpredictable, it just keeps on setting pods. We love the fact that the beans are genuinely stringless and stay tender even when they get a bit longer, which makes picking less fussy. The rich red flowers are a show in their own right, so you get both an ornamental climber and a reliable cropper from the same plants. For small gardens, patios and allotments alike, Firestorm is a brilliant choice.
