Topic: Runners dropping flowers

[Mubgrub]

Hi all, my runner beans have been in flower for about three weeks now but the flowers keep dropping off! ???  I can't see any mini beans where they've fallen, the plants are well watered and the ground was manured last september.

Am I doing something wrong? ???

[wardy]

No, I don't think so.  There's always some flower drop and if you had heavy rain then I think that would account for some of it.  I went to plot after yesterday's heavy rain and was surprised to see some beans!!!!!   I'd given up on them.  One tiny aubergine too, oh and some toms showing at long last  ;D

[Mubgrub]

Phew!  That's a relief!  Thanks ;D

[redimp]

I have a combination of flower drop and some mini beans - it is about half and half on my bigger plants and the ratio of beans to lost flowers increases up the stem.

[john_miller]

For me runner beans never set before mid August as it is so warm here (but we grow great melons) prior to then. Perhaps you have the same problem?
Alternatively, are you seeing many bees visiting the flowers? Runner beans have very low sugar levels in their nectar and bees will only visit if there are few alternatives as nectar sources.

[Mubgrub]

I've tended to go to the plot in the evenings when the weather is hot so not sure about the bees.  My neighbours' beans seem to be setting fine, maybe its the aspect? It has been a tad on the breezy side lately.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Honeybees are the only ones which are choosy about what flowers they visit, and they aren't effective runner bean pollinators anyway.

[jennym]

I think it's the moisture in the air that affects them. Since we started having a bit if rain, its seems almost magically, loads of beans have started appearing. Or maybe they were already set and are just swelling now, I don't know.