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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: betula on May 25, 2010, 09:10:49

Title: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on May 25, 2010, 09:10:49
Started mine of in pots and they went leggy so put them in the ground,too early I know but they are doing ok,had to cover them with newspaper on the colder nights which was a bit of a palava  :)

(http://i46.tinypic.com/dgrnv4.jpg)


Have also direct sown and these are just peeping through now,never fails to thrill me  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: asbean on May 25, 2010, 09:18:06
I resisted, and started mine off later and have just put them in the ground. Looking good, too. Even sown direct, they soon catch up.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Stevens706 on May 25, 2010, 09:19:57
Still in pots waiting to go in
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on May 25, 2010, 09:20:58
(http://i46.tinypic.com/20ksjrq.jpg)


Just popping up and thrilled to bits LOL

Have some pot grown ones waiting to go in now too,determined to have some beans this year  :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: antipodes on May 25, 2010, 09:42:33
Mine are doing great! Haven't finished sowing yet, so far there is a short row of shelly beans, some yellow wax and two rows of Fin de Bagnol (dwarf green).  they are all about 5 to 10 cm high.
Now have to put in this week the climbing Cobra beans.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on May 25, 2010, 14:54:07
I love watching beans when they germinate the way they come out of the ground and unfurl their leaves - always makes me smile   :)

I have nearly planted all mine out now (over a period of 10 days) loads of dwarf beans, climbers, just a few soya beans and the gigandes to go in. Went up to the plot today and the dwarf beans need more water but the climbers seem ok so far

Fingers crossed for a beanlicious summer  :D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 26, 2010, 17:47:47
The Gigandas went into the ground at home yesterday evening..... the rest are moving up from 15-drop modules to bigger plots tonight/tomorrow.... I've got about 20 varieties and maybe 500 bean plants, mostly for shelling.... disaster on the soybeans though as hardly any germinated... suspect not warm enough for them...

chrisc
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: cornykev on May 26, 2010, 18:41:39
I have two wigwams on the go both sowed direct Apr 25th and are a couple of inches up.   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on May 26, 2010, 18:49:04
blue lake and tiger are climbing up the poles, about 18" so far, borlotto and cosse violette are just starting to climb , the seeds i put in in case are just breaking through :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: pigeonseed on May 26, 2010, 20:31:43
I made the mistake of planting out French beans (blue lake and a cosse violette) about two weeks ago. Only two have survived!  :'(

I think it's been warm enough, but the wind here near the coast has been very strong and I think that's what did for them. I'm used to sheltered conditions in London.

But I've learnt my lesson! I've been building windbrakes (breaks?) out of plastic sheeting and sticks around young plants and it seems to have helped.

And some new bean seedlings are popping up all over on my window-sill  :)

Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Flighty on May 26, 2010, 21:13:13
I sow all mine direct, started about ten days ago and so far so good!  8)
[attachment=1]     [attachment=2]
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on May 28, 2010, 14:53:52
Just planted the last batches out - Gigandes (and so far they are living up to their name!), Soya and Dwarf Borlotto. That will be it for a while, until I can figure out some room for a late batch  ;)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: javahart on May 29, 2010, 10:09:20
I started some of my dwarf French beans in modules & some in guttering and then planted out last week.   All looking good so far.

Not so successful with the climbing french beans, which I planted out just before the last frost  >:(
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: goodlife on May 29, 2010, 10:39:36
Most of the beans are germinated but still waiting to get out..I have planted out some dwafs around sweetcorn..but I've been waiting the rain to come soften the ground..so...tomorrow if weather is ok they are all going out...
Oh..and I have to re-sow some too..I was a bit too keen with watering can during hot weather and managed to rot three lots in modules....  ::) oh well...still plenty of time for it and spare ones left... ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: lottie lou on May 29, 2010, 12:04:21
Worst year I can remember for beans.  I started all mine in pots indoors and they haven't germinated and generally rotted.  Perhaps I should have a bit more patience and stop standing in front of them shouting "GROW d.m you GROW!!  Perhaps that upsets them and makes them sulk.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: shonam on May 29, 2010, 12:25:51
Worst year I can remember for beans.  I started all mine in pots indoors and they haven't germinated and generally rotted.  Perhaps I should have a bit more patience and stop standing in front of them shouting "GROW d.m you GROW!!  Perhaps that upsets them and makes them sulk.

I've had the same problem. This is my first year and I assumed I've done something wrong but not sure what. Reassuring to see others have the same problem. French beans have all germinated ok though - dwarf and climbing - its just the runners and broad beans that haven't worked out. I think I'm going to resow straight into the beds now and hope for the best as my toms and aubergines are going to need the space in the greenhouse (have just got a plastic walk-in one so not loads of space).
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: mpdjulie on May 29, 2010, 13:23:49
These are my cosse violette french beans planted out last weekend

(http://i45.tinypic.com/2iiafk1.jpg)

and these are my blue lake french beans planted the same time.

(http://i50.tinypic.com/332p94g.jpg)

All my runner beans were killed by the frost 2 weeks ago but I sowed some direct and they are now sprouting through.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: amphibian on May 29, 2010, 14:00:24
Mine are doing okay, they're just putting out their first long shoots after the early leafy stage. I've suffered some losses to an unidentified pest, which just cuts them near the base and leaves the decapitated plant lying on the ground. They look cut with a knife, very cleanly.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Digeroo on May 29, 2010, 17:17:38
My first patch of runner were sown into a cloche and are now more than half way up 8 ft canes.  They were still in a cloche a few days ago and took a bit of time to untangle  Last year I manage to kill them by letting them get too hot but this year they are looking very bonny   Got some sown direct coming up in bottle cloches on the allotment, it is very windy there so I will not let them out yet.  I need to take over some canes but they are disappearing so I will have to put my name of each one - such a bind.  I have more in pots waiting to go out.

Just sown some more beans direct to celebrate the meagre drop of rain we have just had.  Gave them a can full of water as well.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: compo49 on May 31, 2010, 21:03:32
Hello. I too have had problems getting them to germinate in pots and they all rotted .

I have now germinated my cobra-blue lake and dwarf beans on plain kitchen paper in sandwich bags on the kitchen window sill in just over a week and potted them on.

They are now about six inches tall and i am going to put them in at the allotment this week.

I know this is off the subject but i have done the same thing with brassicas-courgettes-cucumbers & peppers all with amazing results in a very short time with a 100% germination rate.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: lewic on May 31, 2010, 21:47:40
Most of mine rotted in the pots, so it took some time to get seedlings going. Then when I came to put the canes in, it was too dry and I had to water for hours. Got them all in, only to find out they are dwarf beans and dont need canes.. doh!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: aj on May 31, 2010, 22:11:03
I've just sown [tonight] the last of my beans for 2010. I was supposed to be growing out 78 different varieties but due to finding out I had Aninopyralid I've had to remove and rake out all the manure we had put down, and move the spuds into clean soil [from the onion bed] and put onions and brassicas into the mildly dug in manure bed. So, my space for beans is at least halved. I'm not a happy bunny as I'd dug manure into the bed that I was going to grow the beans in.

I'm just going to go hell bent for the dwarf ones in the space I have at home, and ditto for the climbers at the lottie.

I suspect I'll be growing beans in every tiny corner this year.

Flippin farmers.  >:(
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: goodlife on May 31, 2010, 22:14:34
I forgot that I ordered some rice beans... ::)...those just arrived...and for sowing again... ::)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: kt. on June 01, 2010, 04:16:56
Never bothered with beans before but was looking to start next year. From reading comments on the thread maybe the failure rate is too high to bother. ::) ::)  Are things usually this bad for beans.....
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on June 01, 2010, 06:59:02
Got back from a few days away and beans looking OK. Didn't manage to repot before I went so I'll be shuttling them up to the lottie as from today, climbers first I guess. Gigandas have mostly found their growing strings and are starting to climb, the crimson broadies went into the ground from modules and rootrainers before I left and seem healthy, the Sutton dwarf broadies are covered in flowers but I noticed ants starting to farm blackfly on there last night so looks like I'll be needing to do something about that... soft-soap spray at night (so as not to get the bees) and an antnest hunt I guess...

FWIW I started all my beans off in 24 or 15-drop modules, the Gigandas and some of the crimson-flowered broadies had the luxury of the rootrainers. I watered each seed-tray with 1 pint of normal strength Cheshunt compound, then the trays were kept in the kithen under cloche-tops and rotated through the propagators. Once a tray was showing well it shifted to the windowsill with the cover off for a few days, then started a daily migration to the outside coming back in at night.  Looks like it worked for me, though I think I'll try to be a couple of weeks earlier next year and insert a potting up stge between the modules and going into the ground.

chrisc 
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Mortality on June 01, 2010, 08:02:48
My Broad Beans are fine with many small pods forming.
The French Beans (Blue Lake) struggled, they were indoor grown transplanted plants and the middle leaves went yellowy, I fertilised and watered and they seem to have perked up abit.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: earlypea on June 01, 2010, 08:18:18
Never bothered with beans before but was looking to start next year. From reading comments on the thread maybe the failure rate is too high to bother. ::) ::)  Are things usually this bad for beans.....

No, they grow themselves - really one of the easiest, most productive crops you can possibly grow.  By mid to late summer we'll all be drowning in flavoursome, colourful, succulent beans - nothing like the cardboard supermarket ones.

It's just getting them started can be a little tricky with the finicky climate.  If you sow from now you'll have no bother at all.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on June 01, 2010, 08:41:41
They look cut with a knife, very cleanly.

That's awful! Do you need replacemet seeds? If so I'm sure I could rustle some up
1066
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 01, 2010, 08:42:22
I now have three tripods of beans growing away.Some I started in pots and some in the ground.

Although I only have a small patch of ground now the blessed relief is I no longer have to battle against the rabbits.Last year I was posting pictures of beans that had the tops bitten clean off  >:(

Was even able to give my mum some spare plants this year  :)

I am growing Mr Fothergill's Enorma and I must say they have all germinated very well and been easy to grow  SO FAR  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: BAK on June 01, 2010, 09:01:01
... badly.

Seed sown directly into the ground - only about 30% surviving. Many have been bitten off just after germination and quite a few simply left lying there.

Plants from indoor sowings - most small plants have either been bitten at around ground level or pulled out completely. Three neighbouring plot holders are suffering similarly.

And the culprits ... we are fairly certain that it is magpies ... or possibly just one ill-educated magpie?!

Secondary sowings underway.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Tatty on June 01, 2010, 10:15:02
Being my first year I did not know that runners were not frost hardy - therefore I sowed them late feb/early march and then they have been planted out since middle/end of march. They are in a 'bean bag' that I brought from eBay with 6ft canes - they are up to top of the canes and starting to flower!

I have had frosts although not as bad as other parts of the country as I am in Kent. They have just carried on growing so I have left them too it. They seem O.K - they are in a sheltered spot.

I am assuming if they are flowering then they are going alright?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: goodlife on June 01, 2010, 10:26:24
Gosh..you are doing well...already flowers!! ;D..I haven't even planted mine..yet..soon though..
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Le-y on June 01, 2010, 10:27:58
must transfer mine out, they're big, everythings ready just need a child free moment!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: sunloving on June 02, 2010, 18:20:21
Well yipee, I sowed lots of beans lidls yellow wax, dwarf and tall french beans direct a few weeks ago and i was getting worried that the drought had go them. Then this morning after all that rain yesterday every one of them was up. What a fab sight!

ps mpdjulie, love the red carpet you must be a allotmenting vip!
and 1066 i tried for two years to grow soya (ustie the T&M hardy)
Turns out that the seeds are very deliccate and the growing point? gets damaged int he pack leading to low germination rates.
I got the best results from starting them on kitchen roll but still pnly around 20% germinated. Lovely yellowy hairy looking plants though once they get going!

x sunloving
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: landimad on June 02, 2010, 20:57:29
I must be very late in the season,
My peas are only about 6" tall, Broads are about 3" tall and the runners have yet to get going with only 15 out of 96 sown showing their heads.
Hope they get going soon as I am getting peckish.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Tatty on June 02, 2010, 21:07:48
Got a couple of pods growing on my broad beans!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: katynewbie on June 02, 2010, 21:51:52
 :-\

French dwarf beans just getting next leaves having sulked a bit. Runners not even shown their faces yet. Broad beans have flowers all over so am hoping for a beanalicious summer!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: powerspade on June 03, 2010, 05:39:38
I have had 100% success with all the runners I grew in rootrainers they are nearly 1ft up the sticks helped along by warm sunshine and a couple of days rain. All my Dwarf Beans are up (Canadian Wonder & Masterpiece) also Buynyard Exhibition Broad Beans are in flower with little pods forming
Runner Beans Scarlet Emperor and Enorma 2 rows x 35ft
Dwarf Beans Canadian Wonder 2 rows x 35ft
Dwarf Beans Masterpiece 1 row x 35ft
Broad Beans Bunyards Exh. 6 rows x 35ft
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on June 03, 2010, 06:03:36
Tatty FTW ("for teh win!" as we say in IT with deliberate mispelling)....  once runners are properly hardenend they will stand some cold, though a hard frost would have them.... Sounds like you got it right.... one thing with that technique is if you have the time/spare seeds for it then it'#s always worth a try cos you can always resow if a frost does get them....

chrisc

Being my first year I did not know that runners were not frost hardy - therefore I sowed them late feb/early march and then they have been planted out since middle/end of march. They are in a 'bean bag' that I brought from eBay with 6ft canes - they are up to top of the canes and starting to flower!

I have had frosts although not as bad as other parts of the country as I am in Kent. They have just carried on growing so I have left them too it. They seem O.K - they are in a sheltered spot.

I am assuming if they are flowering then they are going alright?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: GodfreyRob on June 03, 2010, 07:59:44
French and runners germinate ok if its warm enough - I always start mine off inside in a propagator - they are only in it for a few days before they pop-up.

This year I have climbing french beans (Limka) and they are already 2-3 feet up the canes!
Runners are outside and ok so far.
Broad beans are flowering and the 2nd sowing has just gone in (again started off in pots).

French beans seem to require less moisture than the others - maybe if you are having trouble germinating you could try keeping them on the drier side?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: plot51A on June 03, 2010, 09:07:03
Looking forward to eating first few broadies this weekend with my Great Spud Challenge spuds - yum yum! Overwintered broadies producing pods rapidly now, crimson flowered heritage broadies in full flower, but purple flowered still putting on height but no flowers yet but thats good for succession.
All my other beans are much later than usual, held off because of the weather. But runners are just about to run, and dwarfies putting out growth. Climbing french just sitting there at present hope this lovely weather will give them a spurt. Just love beans.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 03, 2010, 11:23:37
The beans are OK, though none are planted out yet. The only one that didn't do anything was Lazy Wife; the beans rotted in the pots. I've had major problems with squashes. One germinates fine, another in the same tray won't germinate at all, another struggles up here and there with a lot of dud seed and a fair few weak seedlings that just give up and die. I don't know what the problem is.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: artichoke on June 03, 2010, 13:41:47
My gigandes are over 2 foot tall and had to go out in late April because I started them too soon and had to go away for 2 weeks. Wrapped them up in fleece, and they are romping away. Other beans that I protected with plastic simply died.

And I ate my first raw broad bean yesterday! Many of my overwintered broad beans died, but the ones that didn't are very lively and advanced, and I've filled in the gaps.

I am wondering if it is too late to start some more broad beans off?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 03, 2010, 19:09:39
It's worth a try, though they may not be very happy if we do get a hot summer.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Bugloss2009 on June 03, 2010, 19:17:53
didn't work for me - small amount of tough beans, and lots of rust and chocolate spot
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: anemone on June 03, 2010, 23:17:44
All my climbing beans have popped up ! Although no sign of runner beans yet. The crimson broad beans are looking very pretty in flower :) I have the same squash problem Robert, so I was quite pleased today to see each cane had a bean - yippee!

Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Jeannine on June 04, 2010, 05:24:07
Mine went out today , Safari,Fortex and Scarlets but gutted as the only three true Gigandes seeds I had  didn't germinate,,they were very old though, bu the last three..blast it.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: sawfish on June 04, 2010, 11:13:14
Ruth Bible, Madeira Marroon, Birds Egg Horticultural, Oro, Kew Blue, Pea Bean and a couple of others who's name escapes me, now in ground and about 18 inches tall.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: wicksyla on June 04, 2010, 14:58:23
I also got caught out by that last frost a couple of weeks ago i had put my runners and french beans out only 3 days before and all but 2 got hammered. I decided to throw seeds straight in about a week later and they all coming through now, looking good. at least we will have plenty of beans to eat soon. My courgettes on the other hand have been a total disaster, i have lost count of the amount of seeds ive put in now, they just not growing i got another handful of seeds from a friend who had done really well with them so they have gone in now and my fingers are crossed hard for something to grow. never had issue with courgettes before they usually one of the easiest things to grow for me.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: GRACELAND on June 04, 2010, 15:10:44
mines looking poor needs some rain  :o
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on June 04, 2010, 15:16:18
and 1066 i tried for two years to grow soya (ustie the T&M hardy)
Turns out that the seeds are very deliccate and the growing point? gets damaged int he pack leading to low germination rates.
I got the best results from starting them on kitchen roll but still pnly around 20% germinated. Lovely yellowy hairy looking plants though once they get going!

x sunloving

Thanks  :) It's the 1st time I'm growing them. I got them in a swap (thankyou chrisCross) and as I only had a few I gave them the royal treatment and chitted them. So your info is useful if I try them next year. So far they are looking a bit leggy but really looking forward to seeing how they do. I love soya beans, and usually buy a pack of frozen ones from an Oriental shop, so it would be a bit toptastic to eat fresh home grown ones. we'll just have to wait and see.....

meanwhile my pathetic looking broad beans are starting to produce a few pods, but I'm not expecting a bumper crop this year!!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: gwynnethmary on June 04, 2010, 19:59:43
Broad beans look great- they're now in flower so I pinched out the tops today.  The runners look very sad- I think I might have just been too quick off the mark- the leaves are yellow and sparse- I popped some seeds direct into the ground today in the hope of something better.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Georgie on June 06, 2010, 13:59:41
All my runner beans scarlet emperor (courtesy of Ninnyscrops) have been eaten to a stump by the snails.  I sowed eight seeds in the hope of getting four plants beyond the two-leaf stage but it seems it wasn't to be.   :'(

G x
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: cornykev on June 06, 2010, 18:50:48
I have about 6 plants 8 inches high the rest sowed later are waiting to pop their heads out of the ground.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: valmarg on June 06, 2010, 19:23:14
I am wondering if it is too late to start some more broad beans off?

I think the answer is yes.  I read an article earlier this year about succession planting, and for broad beans it is too late now.

Shall have to look through the magazine library to let you have the definitive answer.

valmarg

P.S.  The reason I say that is that I had been trying to get OH to sow more broad beans, for a follow on crop, and the article said it was too late.

Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: lottie lou on June 06, 2010, 19:28:59
Could someone refresh my memory and tell me when I am supposed to nip out the tops of my broadies.  Thanks

May
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: splot on June 06, 2010, 19:30:09
New to the site - I'm from the midlands and have beens in a large pot.  They are growing well - about as big as my hand.  We are thinking of having setting up a fixed piece of trellis so that beans could grown up it.   The veggie patch is at planning stange really and I've joined this site for inspiration!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on June 06, 2010, 19:42:01
Hiya, splot, welcome to a4a, great name, btw  ;D
the blue lake and violette came through the frost ok, barlotti and french climbing got nipped but recovered, now lost 4 to bl**dy slugs, hopefully the new ones will survive, also  :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on June 07, 2010, 08:20:59
hello Splot and welcome to A4A  :) I'm sure you will find loads on here to inspire you  ;)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: gwynnethmary on June 07, 2010, 08:45:16
Could someone refresh my memory and tell me when I am supposed to nip out the tops of my broadies.  Thanks

May

When there are flowers.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on June 07, 2010, 09:23:58
Broadies still going great guns at home.... fighting ants trying to farm aphids on the dwarf ones ATM though..... Msot of the climbing beans are now out, should finish them this evenin g

chrisc
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: antipodes on June 07, 2010, 10:19:27
I didn't do broad beans this year, no one in  my place wants to eat them. But in some ways I regret it because I think they are really handsome plants. oH well, you can't grow everything!
I sowed my Cobra beans under trellises on Saturday. They were great last year. I also have some Fin de Bagnols dwarf French on the go. I sowed another row of those on the WE too. Yum, lovely beans!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: non-stick on June 07, 2010, 12:36:57
I love fresh broad beans - about 5 plants survived  from the three full rows that were looking great before the snow hit and these are now producing. The replacements I put in have looked great and are starting to pod up. I went for a red-flowered variety as replacements and they looked very attractive.

Noticed the blackfly are putting in an appearance though. Runners are behind but are catching up.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 07, 2010, 13:22:12
Climbing now  :)

(http://i49.tinypic.com/b471q9.jpg)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 07, 2010, 13:27:43
Broadies doing well,amazed what I have packed into my little patch.


(http://i47.tinypic.com/k33ifs.jpg)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Digeroo on June 07, 2010, 13:46:35
By broad beans are great though I have managed to have another run in with the manure and one patch are looking very sorry for themselves.   But most are 5-6 feet tall.    I only had three plants that survived the winter and the february sown ones have long since overtaken them.   So I cannot really see the point of sowing in October/November.   Only one plant with black fly so far.

First batch of runners doing great they are now 3/4plus of the way up the poles.  Last year managed to leave the cloches on too long and cooked them, got it right this year.  They are just beginning to produce flowers.  Rather late with some of the others but they are all doing well.  We suffer a lot from furry bees that bore holes in the back of the flowers which then drop off without producing beans, so I am trying Moonlight which are supposed to be self fiertile.

Some of my french beans also suffering manure issues so I have had to swap things round a bit.  Luckily I decided to do an experiment and put one row with manure, one with compost, one with leaf mould and one with recycled.  So have had to change the manure row to sweet corn and dug a new bean trench.  I have lots of different french beans on the go.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 07, 2010, 19:43:42
I never nip them. Don't do it as soon as flowers appear, as thet happens when they're pretty small.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: gwynnethmary on June 07, 2010, 20:06:48
I never nip them. Don't do it as soon as flowers appear, as thet happens when they're pretty small.

Why not?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 08, 2010, 00:30:30
Well when you nip out you are trying to produce a bushier plant,unless you want a very small bushier plant that is  ;D

No doubt someone will tell me I am wrong but I only nip them to get rid of the worse of blackfly .
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: gwynnethmary on June 08, 2010, 01:17:57
This is my first year, and so I nipped mine out as per instructions in the book I have about allotments.  It said it would help to discourage blackfly.  Mine are Sutton, and small and bushy anyway! Most of them have several branches.  We were very excited way back in February when we sowed our first seeds, and now they look really healthy and attractive with their white flowers with black markings- can't wait for those first tasty beans!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: landimad on June 08, 2010, 05:01:28
I never nip out the tops, it just stops the beans coming on mine. I seem to get just the same amount of pods. I love them, but the kids are not keen so I only do about a dozen or so to top up the freezer for me and the OH.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 08, 2010, 10:17:00
The idea of nipping out is to get rid of the blackfly. I don't bother because aphids on the tips don't bother the plant, and if they're there, they'll be on other vulnerable spots as well. It's only when a plant gets smothered that it shows signs of being affected, and even then, the tougher ones like Aquadulce Claudia cope perfectly well. The only time I've ever had real problems was what I grew Cosso Violetto, which doesn't seem to have any aphid resistance at all. I wouldn't bother again.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 14, 2010, 20:17:02
Noticed ants are farming blackfly on one of my broad beans...........guess just soapy water?? ???
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: cornykev on June 14, 2010, 21:26:44
I noticed black fly on my runners yesterday, where's them bloody ladybirds gone.   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: artichoke on June 14, 2010, 22:37:12
Even though the snow hammered most of my autumn sown broad beans, I still think it is worth it. Maybe the spring sown ones do catch up, but my surviving autumn ones are producing mature pods, and my spring ones are not, yet.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on June 15, 2010, 06:01:43
All  the climbing beans seem to be going now, looked at the allotment last night... only ones that seemed less than happy were the dwarf yin-yangs, looks like they're sulking after polanting out.... don'#t blame them, the bit of soil they';re in isn';t that great....

chrisc
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 15, 2010, 11:08:34
Yes saw loads of Ladybirds earlier in the year and now have not seen one for ages   ???
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on June 15, 2010, 16:49:12
blue lake and cosse violete nearly to the top of their poles, no pods yet , barlotti etc about 2' high  :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: valmarg on June 15, 2010, 22:04:42
Shall have our first taste of broad beams any day now.

We have grown a variety of runner/french bean Moonlight in a tub in the greenhouse, as a bit of an experiment.  Well, they are more that at the top of their canes, and growing through the greenhouse windows.  Loads of flowers on, and am looking forward to trying them.

valmarg
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Georgie on June 15, 2010, 22:13:29
Shall have our first taste of broad beams  any day now.


valmarg


Times are hard, eh?    ;D

G x
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: goodlife on June 15, 2010, 22:20:40
Code: [Select]
The only time I've ever had real problems was what I grew Cosso Violetto, which doesn't seem to have any aphid resistance at all. I wouldn't bother again.
 ::)..and those are fool hardy variety for me.. ::) ;D,,I grow them every year without problems....funny that...any french bean does well for me but runners are always a bit hit and miss with me..I think it is to do with watering..I'm not too keen 'to splash about'.. ;D..most boring job...
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: valmarg on June 16, 2010, 22:08:07
Shall have our first taste of broad beams  any day now.


valmarg


Times are hard, eh?    ;D

G x

Well, my plea in mitigation is that I spent a lot of time as a shorthand trypist/ ;D ;D

valmaeg
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: landimad on June 21, 2010, 10:08:53
ValMarg,
How are the broad beams doing?
Mine are still in flower and at the moment have no sign of the dreaded black fly on them.
The runners are not doing so well  :( They have been hit by the frost and will not come through the soil quick enough for me to eat. Looks as though it will be a late season for these this time round.
I shall try to get it right next year by sowing in pot trainers to see how they do!
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: antipodes on June 21, 2010, 10:48:52
My French beans are in flower so hopefully we will be eating some very soon. om nom nom
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: artichoke on June 21, 2010, 12:19:18
I was about to take off the top of a broad bean plant with blackfly when I saw three ladybirds hard at work, so left them to it.....Have eaten pods off those autumn sown ones that survived the winter.

Gigandes are flowering, and have run out of pole, so I am training them downwards to go up again.

French beans are starting to climb, as are runners. Nothing to eat yet. Am trying them on one of these:

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=9d947827438fc9bfa68cf11339f4d0de&topic=2100.15

I made it last year, but my beans failed, so I hope it will work this year.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on June 21, 2010, 19:33:54
my dwarf ones have beans on  ;D
just about to sow a follow on crop, these are in leaf bags  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 21, 2010, 21:20:26
We ate a couple purple violetti runner beans and a couple Massai beans today- the few Massai's the groundhog didn't get.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on June 21, 2010, 23:21:59
Flowers just starting to show on my runners..........exciting  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Digeroo on June 21, 2010, 23:40:07
I am very pleased that the first of my runners have now reached the top of the 8ft canes but they have only just started to flower.  Looked at one of the flowers to see if the beans had set and managed to knock it off.  My second batch are about a foot up the canes and also just starting to flower.  My third batch got caught by the dreaded Aminopyralid and had to be moved and a few of them are still sulking. 

Broad beans are starting to crop well two good portions so far.   

Climbing bean Mrs Lewis half way up the cane and now getting some of those lovely purple flowers.  I hope the beans will follow quickly behind.  Have not grown many dwarf this year, I just found it did not eat them last year.  I could not be bothered to bend down and search for the beans when the climbing ones were good enough to produce them at a reasonable picking height.  I usually produce some really early ones under cloches but forgot to put them in.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: betula on July 06, 2010, 22:49:40
Broadies starting to do well now

(http://i50.tinypic.com/6f0cjb.jpg)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: powerspade on July 07, 2010, 06:58:12
Dwarf Kid Beans (Canadian Wonder) all three rows in full flower,
Runner Beans (Scarlet Emp) near at the top of the sticks plenty of flowers coming.
Broad Beans (Bunyards Exh) Four rows which I have started to crop this past 3 weeks, no blackfly and not very heavy yield in fact the poorest harvest I have ever had - I think its because we haven't had real rain here for nearly 3 months, just a couple of light showers
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on July 07, 2010, 07:23:32
Ooo those broadies look good Betula!

My Broadies have been chopped down - they got a 2nd attack of blackfly and never made recovered - we had one meal from them!  :'(
On the upside the 1st French Beans to start producing are the Purple Tepee  :)

1066  :)
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on July 07, 2010, 08:13:20
our purple podded and cosse violette (not sure if they're the same? ) are flowering, barlotti and haricot are still climbing the poles, although quite slowly, can't water, hosepipe ban and too much for watering cans, just hope all the stuff Ray put in the trenches is keeping them moist until we get some rain  :-\
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: earlypea on July 07, 2010, 08:36:51
Managed to get a few meals out of Witkiem and Imperial Green Longpod (as babies) but Claudia Aquadulce, despite shrugging off the black-fly best at first (Witkiem drew them in I think) was swamped when the beans were mature and waiting to be eaten - sucked the life out of pods and left squishy and dripping.  Finished them last week.

Anyway - this year's early French dwarves perished under cover, which is such a shame because it fills a gap before the tall ones and I am so sick of peas.  Feels like have only had one night off in weeks.  Funny, I could eat French or runner beans twice a day every day all summer and often do!  but with peas I reach a tolerance level - too sweet maybe.  The Purple podded are a relief as they taste starchy, mealy - bit like broad beans actually.

Dwarf second sowings -
small bagful of Borlotti as a slicing bean yesterday
Purple Queen seems extremely slow as a first early in comparison, only flowering
HSL ones; Ice/Crystal Wax first small signs of beaning up, but have to save for seed.  Gauk flowering, again saving for seeds.

Tall ones:
First few Cosse Violette eaten last night.  Waggling high above my canes and dripping with flowers - it's a real trooper.
Meraviglia di venezia - one third up it's canes, sharing with my Caigua Achocha which is beginning to fruit.  Should be an interesting fight  :D
Kew Blue and Major Cook's settled in well now but not climbing yet.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: aquilegia on July 07, 2010, 08:47:52
My broadies have all finished. Planted last November. Must remember to successional sow them for next year.

Runners are well in flower, but no beans setting yet (at least they look nice!)

Dwarf french beans are in bud. (very exciting as I've never grown them before!) Second sowing have just been planted out. 3rd lot didn't germinate very well, but some plants doing ok.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: manicscousers on July 07, 2010, 08:51:08
forgot about the dwarf frenchies, had 2 meals so far but growing them in leaf bags so need loads of water, what a difference a drought makes  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Paulines7 on July 07, 2010, 09:38:35
My runners are only about a third of the way up the poles, have little foliage but plenty of flowers.  Hunter beans are the same.

The Blue Lake climbing French beans have hardly started climbing, yet I have one or two beans on each plant.

Broad beans are ready for picking and looks as though it will be a good crop.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: 1066 on July 07, 2010, 11:31:13
Todays update is that I've picked a handful of each of (dwarf) Purple Tepee, Aquilon and Cupidon  ;D  Enough for a meal for 2   ;D  ;D ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: plot51A on July 07, 2010, 13:42:25
Have finished the broadies for eating, some overwintered and Grano Violette spring planted. Grew the Grano Violette as I thought they were purple flowered - wrong, mine were white flowered, so checked around its the beans that are purple when dry! Nevertheless they are a lovely bean, much preferred them to the Aquadulces, well filled even pods, tender, nice flavour will definitely grow again. Am also growing some crimson flowered from HSL just for seed, was away last week and came back to find them suffering badly in the heat and they are rather small and pathetic - but will hope to get some seed which hopefully can improve on next year.
Runner beans top of the poles, first beans set - very low down. have forgotten what all my climbing frenchies were and have lost labels - but they are all quite tall and one or two about to flower.
Will be eating our first dwarf frenchies - cupidon - by the weekend. I love that bean! Have actually made a second sowing which are now through and I'll just grow for seed.
All in all beans seem to be holding up well on my plot ...unlike other things ...like..spuds.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: GRACELAND on July 07, 2010, 16:10:11
 ;)


just started picking runner beans 
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 07, 2010, 18:51:52
Are you finding the Grando Violetto are badly affected by aphids? I tried them one year, and they were eaten alive.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: plot51A on July 07, 2010, 19:05:11
Not seen any aphids on anything so far - fingers crossed. Grando Violetta were completely clean but perhaps I'm just lucky this year. Got storm flies on my sweet peas and courgettes - or thats what I think they are, small black things -  but thats all so far.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Squashman on July 07, 2010, 19:37:08
Picking St. George Runner Beans, also picking french beans. I set 250 aqudaulce broad bean in November, good crop and all gone, now on the second sowing of 250 with the third and final 250 in flower and pods forming.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: earlypea on July 07, 2010, 19:59:50
Please tell me Cupidon growers how that compares to Aquilon, which I found prolific and early but a bit tough skinned for my liking.

Still searching for a perfect first early dwarf - may find it in this year's batch....waiting to sample them
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: plot51A on July 07, 2010, 20:04:45
Not grown Aquilon - but certainly haven't found Cupidon tough skinned.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Jayb on July 07, 2010, 20:25:45
Beans are doing well this year, no black fly on the broadies, what a bonus  ;D Still have the last of the Crimsons and Red Epicure x Crimson

Early runners in the polytunnel have been fab, still waiting for the outside ones to take over from them, beans are setting but a bit slow.

Dwarf frenchies are really starting to happen now and had some scrummy Purple Tepee and Cupidon tonight.

Climbing beans are looking good and some will not be very long till picking some for fresh.

Yummmmmmmmmmmm  ;D
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on July 08, 2010, 09:25:22
Can I sing the praises of Speedie (a dwarf french) on here?....  mine have almost finished (letting the plants carry on to get some seed for next year now). Started the off in pots back in march, had them in bigger pots for a while, in the GH, planted out early June (by which time they had already had a crop off and were flowering again)..... They live up to the name, and for what are tiny loittle plants (about half the size of other DFB's I've grown) they are pretty productive.... but they get you beans fast.... I grew them expecting them to get me a few green beans before the Cobra's took over.... but they've pretty much bean and gone (ha ha).... At home the Cobras were clibming and flowering but no beans as of two days ago, the Sutton broadies are now finished, the crimson flowered were setting beans and I might well have som eto eat by the weekend. THe Gigandas have hit the top of the pole and are flowering.... I've fighting a battle with the ants who want to farm aphids on them all though..... on the plot the various climbing beans (Box, O'Driscoll, Blue Lake, Borlotti, Bridgewater, Minnesota Purple Mennonite Stripe, Cherokee Trail of Tears, Egyptian Pea Beans and Lima beans are all taking off nicely though the Limas are lagging the others,  of the dwarfs (Yin-Yang, Bird Egg, Soldier, Ernies Big Eye, Black Pencil Wax) all seem happy though the Yin-Yangs looked a bit sad when I got backfrom Glastonbury..... they've been watered a couple of times since and have perked up a lot....

chrisc
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: gwynnethmary on July 09, 2010, 08:35:55
French beans have some tiny pods! Runner beans have one flower.  Broad beans are almost ready to pick.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Baaaaaaaa on July 09, 2010, 16:13:10
I think I planted my runners too close together. There are several poles where more than one bean is climbing up.


Will they strangle each other ? Should I remove one of them. ?
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: valmarg on July 09, 2010, 19:11:03
Personally, I'd leave them, based on my 'you can't have too many beans' theory. ;D

They will find their own way to the top.  Some years OH has planted them a bit close together, but they have all survived, and more importantly, borne beans.

Perhaps next year you might plant a bit further apart, but for this year, what is done is done, and reap the benefits. ;D

valmarg
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2010, 20:13:17
They'll be fine.
Title: Re: How are your beans doing ?
Post by: Easywriter on July 09, 2010, 20:31:02
Hi

This seems to be a 'bean forum', so maybe you good people would know. Some of my beans have silvery leaves? What is it? A variation of pea thrips? Is it harming them?

See my Gallery for some pics.

Thanks
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