Anyone know why?
The triffids borlotti plants are growing up a trellis on a west facing wall. They look hale and hearty, I can't see the wall for masses of foliage - but there's not a flower in sight.
They were planted out 2nd week in June, into a standard border which had a meagre top-dressing/mulch of compost. Everything else to either side (7'-8' tall sunflowers, bedding begonias, bedding sunflowers, sweet peas) seems to be okay...
...the borlotti are okay too, except they aren't actually borlotti-ing. Last year I had half-a-dozen climbing french bean plants a few feet to the left, so same site/sun, and they produced well.
???
I planted some B beans earlier this year & had quite a few beans off them [only beans which I did of the early ones]. I then planted some in July and also have big lush plants but very few flowers though I have noticed some hiding under the leaves so maybe there is still time.
i found that i didnt see them until they were already quite large and starting to turn - as the foliage hides the beans extremely well.
have a closer look?
stick a handful of sulphate of ammonia and potash in the water and mix stir well pour on .mine took to it and suddenly got me a carpet of flowers and beanlets
Thank you for your replies.
I've had another look under the foliage, and spotted one possible flower, but unfortunately no beans.
So I'll head up to the garden centre and get the suggested sulphate of ammonia/potash and give them a good feed, and see what develops...
A few days after giving it a good feed, flowers started appearing all over the plants. :) Lots of mini-beans now appearing. The largest about 3" long.
With the the turn in the weather not far off, can anyone help with the following?
1. Can I eat and harvest them as if they were standard french beans i.e. eat them as pods?
2. How long does it take to get a borlotti bean up to 'harvestable bean' size i.e. to the point when I can crack the pod open and use the beans?
3. Is the first frost going to knock the lot off?
?
1. yes you can - at least I did & survived to tell the tale.
2. probably - I have got some ripening but don't think they are going to make it to the 'paper thin' stage so will probably eat the beans like broad beans.
3. I don't know cos this is the first time I've grown them but suspect they are like other beans & will shrivel off with the first frosts.
Thank you :)