Have been away for a few days and come back to find that not only the weeds have grown apace - but 2 of my bean varieties that I thought were bush or dwarf have definitely decided they are climbers! The first are borlotti beans - italian seed bought in Italy, but I was careful not to buy "rampicante", the others are orca "Ying Yang " beans that I thought from reading them up were also bush. Hey ho - I am giving them canes to satisfy their needs but am not sure how high they might get, and also would not have planted them in a block had I known!
Also, and I hardly dare mention this for fear of upsetting the gods, I have some red dragon yard long beans on the plot (don't have polytunnel, greenhouse, conservatory.) They are looking very happy at the moment and growing..... have a fleece blanket round their wigwam and so far they have come through drops in temperature and torrential rain. Thought I would give them a try if we get this promised hot summer and will be quite happy to get any bean at all from them ;D
Hi - sounds like you are doing something right then!!
The borlotti beans are pretty similar in size to runners. Mine - in the tunnel last year got to about 10 - - 12 fit but obviously wound them around other things to take them along horizontal lines when they reached the top!!
Good luck with the others - they sound exciting - I have never even heard of them before!
Old Bird
;D
My dwarf beans climbed a bit last year.
Hi I've got 6ft & 8ft canes for my climbers, after that its over the top and back down for them!
I'll be interetsed to hear how you get on with the yard long beans, I also don't have a greenhouse or polytunnel but fancy giving these a try next year.
1066
Many thanks for pointing out ying yang are not climbers. I have a set ready to plant out and am running out of space and bean poles. So pleased to hear they do not need support. They are certainly lovely looking beans. It will be a pity to eat them. Do they keep their pattern if you steam them? I thought they might make rather fetching baked beans.
Have tried growing yard long bean outside last year a waste of time, they only grew a foot high, the year before in the greenhouse they reached the roof but no beans, I should think you need a tropical climate.
They were planting yard long beans at Beachgrove last week so I hope they don't need a tropical climate.