Runner beans

[lorna]

Yesterday I pulled a nice lot of runers, (Enorma) I know a lot of members have been pulling for a while. I did sow late, due to holidays but still a great feeling to have the first pull.
Lorna

[lorna]

[Mrs Ava]

Those first runners are the greatest Lorna, so tender and tasty.  I have only had a couple of small pickings so far, it is the French beans that are drowning me at the moment.  I am growing Enorma this year.  Are they nice long beans?

[lorna]

Emma. My sister-in-law has always grown Enorma and recommended them to me. Yes you do get nice long beans. S-in-Law was a bit worried this year as the leaves seemed very pale, mine are OK so maybe that is due to the weather we have had.
Lorna

[Uncle Joshua]

My runners (as with most  things) have been very poor this year.

[dtw]

I was in a garden centre today and saw 3 runner bean plants in a 5 litre pot with a couple of sticks for support on sale as a 'patio plant' for £4.99
Do people actually buy these sort of bizarrely overpriced things???

[lorna]

dtw The mind boggles!!

[Barnowl]

My Enorma were pale to begin with but I gave them some heavy liquid feeds and they look much better. Also trying organic Enorma Elite - meant to be an improvement on Enorma although have to say found Enorma perfectly good last year.

[sawfish]

my runners are garbage and tiny this year compared to the enormous crop last year. Sun bright and sun set, never tried them before.

[Emagggie]

I tried Prizewinner (cr*p so far) and Red Rum this year. After a dodgy start (wind damage) Red Rum are ahead by many lengths in flavour, tenderness and yield.

[valmarg]

OH decided early this year that he would succession plant, so that we did not have a glut of runner/climbing french beans.

The first sowing was planted out in a wigwam before the last frosts, and had to be fleeced up a couple of times.  The flowering and crop is fantastic.  Virtually 95% flower/set.  The variety Red Rum.  We have had a few beans off them, but are planning, for this coming Sunday, roast chook with all the trimmings, plus a humungous pile of runner beans!!

The succession planting is not doing so well.  The runner beans are barely halfway up the canes and putting on a very indifferent flower display.  The climbing frenchies are having difficulty finding the canes, let alone climbing up them.

We should have a good crop for Christmas (weather permitting!!!)

We have never grown Enorma beans, but would thoroughly recommend Red Rum.  We have grown it for several years, and the set rate of the flowers is very good, despite the spadgers!!

valmarg

[Eristic]

OH decided early this year that he would succession plant,

I've never found the need to succession plant runner beans as they should crop continuously until the cold weather sets in in Sept - Oct. The secret is to remove ALL the beans 2 - 3 times a week. If you get fed up with them, give them away or compost them but they must be picked relentlessly or they stop producing.

[valmarg]

Eristic, you are leaning on an open door with me, but when OH gets a 'bee in his bonnet' who am I to contradict, but a mere woman!!

Either way, looking forward to our first 'really big' feed of runners.

valmarg

[jennym]

Growing a runner called Sunrise (I think) this year, it has gorgeously pink coloured flowers - good enough to put in the back garden  :) - no beans picked yet though, but tiny ones coming.