My runner beans are around 12 to 18†tall and the leaves look yellowy, they are having great difficulty finding the poles (are they blind?) ??? I have tried curling them around the poles in an anticlockwise direction but most seem too tired to bother to hold on, should I try a clockwise direction? :-\
I had a bumper crop last year (first attempt) just hope I haven’t got to rush out at the last minute to buy seedlings. ::) Any ideas why they are so upset? :'(
P.S. Just pressed the spell checker and was taken to the front page Grrrr then tried to get back and lost all of my post Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!! >:( I think I’m having a bad day. eeeeeeeeeek! ;D
Oh Roy try tieing the beans with string to poles that works the ground may be too dry give them a good watering and cover the base of the plants with a mulch grass clipping will do.
Took mine a time to get up the poles so I tied loosely and some are up to the top already.
???
Snap Roy! Mine are being just as badly behaved. Am away next week and I am hoping that they will have got the hang of it by the time I get back. Have given them big drinks in this warm weather and cosseted them generally, so have no idea whats going on.
I think they go clockwise ::)
Last year (my first on the plot) I grew runners as bush (no poles!). Me and my lottie neighbours were very concerned at how yellow they were. Then I remembered I'd planted a variety called Sun Bright which are SUPPOSED to have yellow leaves to add interest to the plot :-[
Could it be they are cold and damp? I know it has been hot, but it we have also had a fair drop of the wet stuff, and I don't know about you, but we have had very strong cold winds in Essex and I have lost an entire row of dwarf frenchies, all burnt to crisps in the wind! A loose tie will hold them in place until they start running. Maybe a tonic like a liquid seaweed feed might perk them up?
I don't mean to brag, but I have flowers and tiny runners already!! ;D
EJ Can I brag, I noticed 4 little flowers today ;D
Roy mine also seemed a bit yellow on lower leaves and would not climb canes in a decent fashion. so I did the same as Teresa and tied them loosely to the canes., they are now going at a steady rate upwards :) As I am going away on Sat for a week I think I will give them a good drink and mulch with grass cuttings (thanks Teresa.)
Lorna.
I'll try tieing some of the lazy beggers and let them go their own way, ::) I did fleece them last year but I think it was very cold as I remember a neighbour lost his without protection, :-\ this year much warmer and me being much later planting out thought they should be ok :-\
I also have flowers on some but they are not up the pole ::)
Runners are funny beggars, being a legume many people fail to feed them in the believe they can feed themselves by fixing nitrogen. But….new seedlings do not have this ability so I always give them a boost at transplanting. This can be chicken manure pellets, fish blood and bone, growmore, miracle grow or anything with a bit of nitrogen.
Then once they are established they do fine by them selves especially if planted over a load or organic material to hold moisture!
HTH
Jerry
Many thanks to all, I have a tub of Chicken poo and will apply it tomorrow ;D
Hi Roy,
quite a few of the beans on my site are looking a bit sad and puny.Some people reckon it was the cold nights of a couple of weeks ago that set them back.
I sowed my seeds direct on Monday(late as usual).I'm hoping that mine will catch up eventually.Best of luck to you.
Marky.
Think you will just have to have a sharp word with them and tell them to behave!!!
I dug a trench on a hot day and filled it with comfrey and pelleted chicken muck before planting my beans. I was told I smelled like a goat when I got home. Seems to have had the desired effect on the beans (if not my OH) as the first flowers are evident this morning. Growing Painted Lady runners and Blue Lake French climbers. Lance