I'm not sure what happening to my runners (Scarlet Emperor) but they are flowering well, are well watered and sprayed with water on a (almost) nightly basis but ...nothing! They are growing fine. I've pinched three of them off at the top of 8' canes so it's not as if they are not thriving. My french beans a producing like billyo no more then 3 feet away with the same treatment but the runners have not produced a single bean. Any ideas? Ta Lance.
Lancelotment. Looked at my runners today, quite a lot of flower but no beans yet. I thought perhaps I put them in a bit late. My friend has had two meals from his. I live in hopes. Lorna
I've got 2 tiny beans, lots of flower, but hey the flowers look good ;DI had trouble germinating them this year..never had that before.
And why are they not climbing this year - the ones that start up then slide down the canes.
I don't normally reckon to get runners until 25 July, but this year.......??
QuoteMy french beans a producing like billyo
That's more than mine are!
Feel calming down is needed!! Sure runners fine, place wager that in few weeks you all eating them. Why am I so certain?? No idea!!! But got tiny beans at min, but psychic, will be delicious!! Lottie ;D
Like lots of people I have just lots of flowers so far and no beans on runners and only just starting to get flowers on French beans.
Also got both reaching the top of my poles (7' -ish). On that note what are peoples views on pinching or not to pinch when they reach the top?
Hate to brag on my first post, but I'll force myself.... first picking was 30 June, and tonight I gathered a dozen 14" long. Honest.Â
No watering except for rain (in bone-dry South coast). But not many flowers, so perhaps I'll be buying runners by the end of next month...
I don't pinch out the tops of my climbing french beans. I grow them on a construction made from two old rose arches placed 6 feet apart, with 6ft canes tied horizontally linking the two to make a sort of tunnel. They grow up and over. Don't see the need for pinching out.
Runners at my lotties are only just setting - one of the better growers onsite told me tonight that his are just about an inch long! (I've got a few about half that) so they're just starting to go. My dwarf French are somewhat better - have had a couple of handfuls already.
moonbells
;D I'm not doing so bad then as my runners are :o wait for it :o Two inches long ;D and also my french beans. ;D I'm as Smug as a Bug in a Rug ;D
Had rather ignored my frenchies till this thread - but when I looked - wow - beans to pick! ;D My runners are setting quite well, expecting a glut shortly!
All my french and runner beans got killed off by frost on 5th and 5th June or thereabouts. I put some replacement Scarlet Emperor, Streamline and Markant in but no sign of any beans yet. My lotty neighbour who has Sc Emp as well has no beans on his either and his didn't get frosted. I think they'll come good albeit a bit late :)
Thanks Wardy - you give me hope. Was beginning to panic as my runners are only half way up the canes, let alone showing any flowers or beans! Did plant late though as only got plot end of May. Glad to know someone else also planted late - was beginning to worry I was too late with planting (only been in about 3 weeks).
Dear Piggie One of the old lottie blokes was comforting me on the death of my ma and the demise by frost of my crops, including the beans and he told me that he doesn't plant out his runners etc until the second week in June because of frost risk. He's a champion grower of all things massive so knows his onions. I'll copy off him and his planting times in future ;D
Wardy
We have a bean! :D
Just the one mind... Don`t want to over do it :-\
Don't stuff it all in your mouth when you cook it Andy. :P...between us we could make a real killing...2 for me.
mine are in pots and the flowers are dropping off ... any ideas... I got loads of manure in each pot and they mulched well they have grown 7 ft. then I pinch the tips .... lots of flowers then they just drop off .....no beans :'(
Wuhoo!!
We have just ate our first produced runner beans - 8 of them!!
Gert Lush!!
Nobbs xx ::)
At last. Have just come in from garden and smiles all over my face. Have counted about thirty beans, mind you they are only about 1 1/2ins long :) so heres hoping. Lorna
I have runners setting, but they are only small, but my frenchies are more than making up for things on the dinner plate bean front....however...I sowed another 18 runner 'butler' last Monday to fill in some gaps where the slugs had been having a munch. Am hoping for a late harvest or 10!
Up the lottie yesterday and wey-hey!!!!!!!!! About 20 nice big French beans - I hadn't realised they would start so close to the ground so hadn't spotted them before. Now I do know I have lots more coming through. Beans for tea tonight ;D
One runner bean last week, 2 for tea yesterday, and... wait for it... a chance of 4 (or 5 even!!) in a couple of days!
Really cross when daughter brought in 2lb French today - totally unskilled, late in - when there is nothing on my Runners.
Commiserations Tim on your dearth of beans. Same here too but I do have some fancy purple lettuce growing around the bottom of the bean teepee so some could be hiding in there. Will go and have a rummage around :) I think I might sow some more French beans. Hope it's not too late. I've been watering my lotty mate's plot today and I notice he has just put in some very small dwarf french beans "Sonata" and has a row ready now. Shame he's away as I will have to eat them myself. Just slightly cooked and splashed with vinaigrette will do :)
My runners have been amazing this year! 8) The plants are swarming with beans about 3" long! Mind you we haven't had a hosepipe ban yet (at leart not that I know of)!! :-X Don't really know what i've done but i grew them from seed this year instead of cadging some off my neighbour! ::) and i water, water, water every day without fail (sorry to those who have a ban though :( )
Why don't I listen to my own teachings??
I always say that the Runners come in on 25 July. They looked so bashed this year that I didn't even look. But Wife went down today and .........................!!
Very nice beans Tim. Mine are only about 4 inches at best so far. Out of interest though what sort of size should I start picking them to avoid them getting stringy?
Pick 'em young, before you can see the bean shape through the bean...so to speak!
Yippee! I reaped a crop but only like the bunch on the right of Tim's photo :( ;D and about the same again with french beans, but I'm happy, as I'm still in my early days. ;D or should that be Daze ;D
Went over to the allotment today and picked about 10 pounds of beans varying in size from 6 inches(no real beans forming) to an unbelievable 15 inches. We only picked a carrier bag full on Tuesday. Will try and get a photo of the beans my wife cut up today. Will post it later.(if successful)
I think the variety is scarlet emperor. We already have 5 large bags cut and blanched in the freezer.
Trying to pass some of on my work colleague's ;D
DD
Not bad for our first year.
sorry about quality of photo, no flash. All bagged up ready for children to take away tomorrow.
Icy - or buy 'stringless' varieties? I usually do.
PS My ones on the right are climbing French Hunter type - not Runners of course.
Not being a big fan of stringy beans I only planned to grow French beans but lost a load when I planted them out to early. As a result a kind neighbour gave me the runners and so I have no idea what variety they are at all!
Now knowing that I can get stringless ones I will have to give them a try for myself next year. Out of interest are "yard long beans" just big runners?
Iain
NO!!
Here you go, taken from http://www.webindia123.com/garden/vegie/longbeans.htm
YARD LONG BEANS
Scientific Name - Vigna sesquipedalis
Family - Fabaceae
Colour - Light green to red
Common names - Yard long bean, long bean, Chinese long bean, snake bean, pea bean
Best Season - Throughout the year
Nutritional Value - 34 kcal, 4.2 g protein, 110 mg calcium, 4.7 mg iron, 2.4 mg vitamin A, 35 mg vitamin C per 100 g serving.
Native to Southeast Asia, this climbing plant is a close relative of the cowpea or black-eye pea. It comes in different varieties from the more common pale green pod variety, to the more slender darker green one, to a deep brownish red variety. These beans are rich in vitamin A and contain a fair amount of vitamin C.
It is an annual long trailing vine usually grown on poles for support and often reach heights of 9-12 feet. The plant has large pale pink to violet-blue flowers. The pods will grow up to 12 to 30 inches long, depending on the variety, with each pod containing several edible seeds. This plant continues to grow after flowering and fruiting.
Propagation and Planting :
Long Beans are mainly a warm-season crop and will survive extreme humidity and heat. It can be planted in a wide range of climatic conditions but is very sensitive to cold temperatures.
Propagation is through direct seeding or transplanting. They prefer a light, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8, enriched with organic matter, such as compost or dried manure.
Plant the seeds 1-2 inches deep in warm soil. Germination will take place within 6 to 10 days. Soak the seeds in water before sowing, for better germination. Transplants should be done in such a way as to avoid disturbance to the root system. The plants should be placed 2 to 3 feet in rows and the distance between rows should be 4 to 6 feet apart on raised beds or ridges. Dwarf growing forms can be planted much more densely. Place poles and give wire or twine supports in rows. Extra fertilization is not essential as long as you have enriched the soil before planting. But the plant needs heavy watering at regular intervals.
Flowering will occur 5 weeks after sowing. Fruits will grow from open flower to suitable length in about 10-12 days. Pick the pods at the tender stage at maximum length, before the seeds mature or swell. Yard long beans may grow up to 24inch long, but it is better to pick them at 12 to 18 inches.
While picking, cut the pods with a sharp knife to minimize plant damage, thus maximizing harvest. Leave the pods to reach full maturity, allowing them to dry on plant, if the pods have to be reserved for seeds. The pods will break open and the seeds can be collected.
Problems and Care :
The plants are susceptible to black bean aphids, spider mites, nematodes, and mosaic viruses. Aphids, particularly the black bean aphid are drawn to the pods of this plant. Bean fly is the main pest causing small yellow spots on the leaves. They can be treated by spraying dimethoate. Red spider mite produce a speckled silvery appearance on leaves and can be treated by spraying dicofol.
I did not plant enough french beans and am only getting a handful at a time and my runners are all still very small. I am getting very very impatient.
Thanks for that EJ. Not sure I'm ready for trying something that exotic! Iain
My (first time) runners have tiny beans forming but the climbing french beans are really starting to take off now, had a couple of meals already but the real flush of daily picking of the 90 plants will be soon.
I don't blanch them anymore. Last year I did a trial and found no difference in the quality after freezing, even after months. There is a difference when you use them, the blanched ones, even when dried, tend to clump together making them cook unevenly while the ones frozen straight off the plant stay seperate. I don't even wash them, just heads and tails off and snapped in half, any soil on the lower ones gets brushed off. No more dealing with pots of boiling water after coming home, hot and sweaty, from the lottie.
Thanks for the info Ina, a couple of seasoned allotmenteers at the allotment were in the same debate, to blanch or not. Will try a few bags not blanched for comparison.
A young lad at work was eating them raw from my carrier bag today. Mad youngsters!!! Said they were very nice and could I bring him in some on Monday.
Tis that old law of the Sod again, but the beans on my bean poles are slow to say the least, but getting there......the french beans that were stuck in where ever there was room at the time have gone mad and we are eating dwarf purple queen frenchies almost as often as courgettes! Â And the 'spare' runners I had when I thought I had planted enough on my proper poles, were bunged in on the squash bed to do as they pleased up the squash climbing frame.....well, they have gone mad, smothered in flowers and bees and masses of baby beans! Â I seem to do better when I mollycoddle less!
You must have lots of surprizes EJ. Finding good stuff where you had forgotten that you bunged something in the ground.
Indeed Ina, my longest straightest french beans are growing up a tomato plant, but they seem to be in perfect harmony. ;D
Better yet EJ, don't say you just bung stuff in.
You are using harmonious companion planting.
My climbing yellow beans are going bonkers whereas the runners are teeny. Good crops from the yellow and green french/bush beans.
I almost prefer the french beans Baggy, I find them more versatile and do like the crunch!