The Unexpected Plant Pairing That Boosts Blooms And Bean Harvests

To get the most out of your crops and flowers, it is helpful to practice companion planting in your garden. By pairing certain plants together, you can deter pests, attract pollinators, suppress weeds, and support the health of your soil. If you are growing runner beans, planting sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) alongside them will allow these two climbing plants to thrive. Although you can't eat the sweet pea pods as they are toxic, the smell and shape of their flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds. By bringing these pollinators into your yard, you are also bringing them to your runner beans, which produce more pod sets after insect pollination. More birds and butterflies in your garden are great for pest control, too. Birds will eat insect pests, such as beetles and aphids, which are known to go to town on beans. 

However, pest control and pollination are not the only reasons to pair your runner beans with sweet peas. These two plants both have beautiful blooms that liven up the gloomiest of days. Runner beans produce bright, bold red flowers from June to October, and placing the subtle hues of sweet peas next to them will result in a stunning array of colors and shades. Sweet peas bloom from May to July and can be found in every color except yellow. Plus, as these two plants are both legumes, they naturally enrich your garden soil through nitrogen fixation. 

For the best results, plant your runner beans and sweet peas in a location with full sun. You can either start them off inside or plant the seeds directly into your soil. However, starting your runner beans and sweet peas off inside will provide them with protection from pests and help them develop strong root systems. In turn, this improves their chances of survival. If you choose to go this route, start the seeds a few weeks before the last expected frost. Use a seed-starting mix and well-draining containers. Your runner beans will start to germinate between seven and 14 days after planting. The sweet peas will take a bit longer, at around 10 to 21 days. 

When there is no risk of frost and your seedlings have grown, it is time to plant them out! Make sure you take two weeks to harden them off before planting, as this will save the seedlings from transplant shock. Then choose a well-drained location and apply a balanced fertilizer. Space the sweet peas and runner beans 6 to 8 inches apart and provide them with support for climbing, such as a trellis or netting. As your beans and sweet peas grow, stay on top of watering. Both like a lot of water, as long as the soil drains well. To get more blooms from the sweet peas, pick their flowers regularly. Bring the fresh cuttings into your home to enjoy their scent and colors, or gift them to your loved ones.