runner bean variety

[littlebabybird]

do runner beans just come with red flowers?
if not which ones dont? do they produce as well as red ones?
lbb

[littlebabybird]

[ceres]

Last year I planted 3 varieties, one with red flowers, one with white and one with red and white.  Can't say I noticed any difference in the yields.  The pods of each were slightly different.

[Flighty]

No there are white ones such as 'Mergoles' and bi-colour such as 'Painted Lady' which I'm growing.  Pink and white ones are self-pollinating.
As to which ones are best...

[KathrynH]

I've tried both the red and white flowering varieties but can't say I've noticed any difference in crop or taste. Just depends on what colour scheme you want!

[bedrockdave]

we've used white lady for the last 3 years , they are really tender taste superb(I never used to like beans ) and a good cropper, we actually prefer them to enorma which is one of the popular red flowered variety

[greenstar]

We grew "Sunset" last year - lovely beans, cropped really heavily and won us two first prizes at the annual show.  This year though, they've not done so well after the cold start and refusing to climb and all that - we're still waiting for our first crop of runners.  Ah well...

[manicscousers]

we like painted lady, they don't go as stringy as some, imo  :)

[Suzanne]

I am trying Sunbright this year - mainly for the yellow leaves, I am okay if yields poorer than the green types as I prefer french climbing beans. Flowers are red though.

I planted them with some deep purple sweet peas on a wigwam - picture taken this morning.

[valmarg]

The best red flowered runner bean is Red Rum.  The 'set' rate is fantastic, and a wonderful crop.

Of the 'white flowered' beans, White Lady do very well.

valmarg

[Borlotti]

Fairly new to the allotment (well 5 years) so I just bunged seeds in from Morrisons or Woolworth but am learning about different beans, so will try Red Rum and White Lady and also I must have yellow courgettes next year.  I was pleased just to get beans and courgettes but now I want to grow more unusual things.  Didn't realise all the different types of tomato and the different tastes, was pleased to just grow a ripe tomato.  Thank you to everyone for your good advice and I will reading the seed catalogues.

[saddad]

I like painted lady and Sunset, for the flowers. They were originally grown as ornamental climbers... I have one Scarlet Emperor in the school's greenhouse and it is putting up a stirling display!  ;D