Pinching out runner beans

[carrot-cruncher]

Can I pinch out the top of my runner beans to stop them reaching six foot high?

I ask as I'm barely over five foot tall and would prefer the runners to stop at a height I can still reach.   If I pinch out the top what happens, do they bush up or drop dead etc?

Thanx folks

CC

[carrot-cruncher]

[manicscousers]

we do this, they bush out a bit, never seems to have done ours any harm  ;D

[grotbag]

i always pinch mine out, doesnt harm them at all

[carolinej]

Last year I grew some up a wigwam in a big pot. When they got to the top of the wigwam, I just let them carry on growing. They flopped back down and carried on cropping. I had to lift them up to check underneath for pods, but that wasnt a problem.

That way I think I had a bigger crop, and I could reach all of it.

cj :)

[dtw]

Why don't you redirect the plant downwards and tie it to the bamboo.

[tim]

The 'flop' may be profitable cropwise, but it can become one hell of a jungle, smothering the flower trusses at the top. And VERY top heavy.