Topic: Climbing beans

[banksy]

I have constructed a bean frame in the usual manner using 8ft canes, it's around 9ft long and is in a north-south direction.  I will be growing Runner and climbing French beans this year.

Our winds are predominantly from the west, therefore one side of the frame will be exposed to these winds and the other side slightly more sheltered.

So my question is as follows, which type Runner or French bean would be better suited on the 'windy' side of the frame?

[realfood]

Runner beans for the windy side as they are tougher.

[banksy]

Thanks!  :D

[peanuts]

Perhaps I'm asking the too obvious question, but why couldn't you have built it in a east/west direction?  Certainly here where strong winds can arrive very suddenly, we always erect our bean supports along the direction of the prevailing winds.  Is it too late to change it???!!!

[banksy]

Two reasons really, the first being that if I built it east to west one side would permanently be in the shade, secondly I don't have enough room now to do it any other way  ::)

[gavinjconway]

Runner / climber... I'm baffled as to a difference in these bean types. I assumed they are the same thing with different interpretation of the growing action?

[Kleftiwallah]

If a climber didn't have a cane, it would be a runner and if a runner was sent up a cane it would be a climber.   ::)

Is your bean construction an inverted 'V' shape?  if so tie the canes together a little lower down as the beans will congregate at the top and the beans will be difficult to find.     


Cheers,     Tony.

[Digeroo]

Runner beans - Phaseolus coccineus - are normally climbing.  They are normally red flowered but can also be white, pink or bicolour.   There are dwarf non climbing varieties such as Hestia. The skins of the beans are normally slightly rough.  Need bees to polinate.  Beans normally green but I have some seeds of purple ones. ;D   Runners climb up canes.

Climibing french beans -Phaseolus vulgaris - are climbing varieties of the same as dwarf beans also called green beans.  Also known as squeaky beans because they squeak against your teeth when you eat them.   Flowers are normally white, pink or purple. They can be a little more tolerant of hot conditions are are self fertile.  Beans are usually green, yellow, purple or spotty.  French Beans can be flat, round or pencil.

Just to confuse there are also other types of climbing bean.  

[Chrispy]

My ballotti beans seemed to get affected the same amount by the wind regardless of which side they are on.

I think I understand why this is, but it is too complicated for my to explain so I won't try, but next time you are out in a westerly wind, go stand close to a hedge, you will find you get just as much shelter on the west side as you do on the east if you stand close enough.

[mentallot]

My ballotti beans seemed to get affected the same amount by the wind regardless of which side they are on.

I think I understand why this is, but it is too complicated for my to explain so I won't try, but next time you are out in a westerly wind, go stand close to a hedge, you will find you get just as much shelter on the west side as you do on the east if you stand close enough.

Turbulence
Or was it flatulence ... ?

[grannyjanny]

Turbulant flatulance if they were artichokes ;D ;D ;D.

[Chrispy]

Don't say that word, I don't know if it has been what I have been eating or the tablets I am taking but I pity any body who is down wind from me.