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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Westie on March 16, 2008, 15:57:35

Title: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Westie on March 16, 2008, 15:57:35

Any recommendations please, for the best tasting variety of stringless runner beans ?

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: debjay on March 16, 2008, 15:59:09

Last year we tried Enorma and Scarlet Emperor. Both very nice and tasty ;D
Debs

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: redimp on March 16, 2008, 16:49:24

Wisleys Magic is the one that wins all the awards.  I like Painted Lady but they run to string quite quickly.  This year I am growing Lady Di which I have grow before and are really nice despite me not liking the name.  They are an attractive bean as well.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: manicscousers on March 16, 2008, 16:49:59

painted lady  ;D

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Trevor_D on March 16, 2008, 16:58:54

Enorma's my favourite, too. (And very prolific.) Painted Lady looks fabulous, but agree with redclanger, they turn knobbly & stringy rather quickly. White Lady is far better, but looks a nothing unless you grow sweet peas up the wigwam as well.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Biscombe on March 16, 2008, 17:09:55

white lady here due to the mega hot weather, white flowered varieties seem to set better

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Lucho on March 16, 2008, 17:25:48

I've always grown Polestar. Tasty and stringless!

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: tim on March 16, 2008, 17:29:50

I defy anyone to identify varieties in a blind tasting. They're all delicious but some, like White Lady, are more reliable & others, like Enorma, are grown commercially. For good reason!

I like a mix of flower colour.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Suzanne on March 16, 2008, 17:40:10

Same here Tim. I am growing Sunbright (trying to remember the name without looking through the seed box) for the first time this year as it has golden leaves.

All runners are okay as long as you pick them when they are young.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Jeannine on March 16, 2008, 17:47:06

I also agree about the taste there is not the same differnces as in French beans, I do think some are prolific than others but I like a variation in colour too.

XX Jeannine

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: sawfish on March 16, 2008, 18:47:08

White Lady is definitely the sweetest one I've grown, the pods look more gnarly but the flavour is better. I grew 5 varieties that year.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: tomatoada on March 16, 2008, 18:52:33

I too think Lady Di are good.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: betula on March 16, 2008, 19:02:09

Last season I grew White lady and Scarlet Emperor.Both prolific and good taste. :)

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: theothermarg on March 16, 2008, 19:19:53

Mergoles (mr fothergills) did very well last year, they are white flowered and stringless so I am sticking to them this year
marg

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Dadnlad on March 16, 2008, 19:37:51

Another stringless vote for Lady Di from us  ;)
Butler runs a close second, and Fergie has been good in the past

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on March 16, 2008, 19:44:30

Lady Di?
Butler?
Fergie?

do you grow Al Fayed as well?

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: lorna on March 16, 2008, 20:08:50

Have grown Lady Di and thought them excellent. Couldn't get them locally so on the recommendation of sister-in-law I have grown Enorma  for past 2 years and agree they are good, growing them again this year

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Eristic on March 16, 2008, 20:42:52

My favourite is Red Flame. Early, prolific, stringless and can be eaten raw.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: valmarg on March 16, 2008, 21:37:30

Red Rum for the earliest tastiest crops.

Also grow Lady Di, White Lady, Fergi. White Apollo.

I think Red Rum is the most prolific/tasty, and earliest of the varieties we grow.

Shall be trialling Wisley Magic this year.

valmarg

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Rhys on March 17, 2008, 10:18:45

I grew White Lady for the 1st time last year for my early crop in the hot weather, terrific flower set and taste, stringless too.

For a later crop I have grown Enorma, Butler, Best of All, Wisley Magic, Painted Lady, Scarlet Emperor but found Polestar to be very good.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 17, 2008, 15:06:28

Vote for White Lady from me too!

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: lincolnlad on March 17, 2008, 16:33:36

CZAR THE ONES I GROW REALY A GOOD CROPPER.GOING TO TRY RED RUM THIS YEAR.

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: saddad on March 17, 2008, 18:44:13

I'm a painted Lady, Scarlet Emperor and Sunset fan myself... but I don't let them get long and stringy... any i miss just go straight to compost!
 ;D

Title: Re: Best runner beans ?
Post by: rentawreck on March 18, 2008, 17:20:05

What about Daniel's Defiance.   Grown only for tase as they do not grow into large offesive weapons such as you find in supermarkets.   They will win you no prizes at the show bench.

Alternatively you could look to Pickwick or Hesta which are dwarf varieties.

Always take you beans between 6 and 8ins (your magic 6" ruler = clench your fist then stick your thumb out at right angles to your hand:  the distance between the tip of your thumb and the edge of your hand opposite your thumb is 6"......or very close to it).

The commercial offerings are much alike but offer a more colourful alternatives for people like me who grow them on their patio!