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I am thinking of growing some french beans in the polytunnel - will they get properly pollinated and set properly?

Yes!  I have had several very good crops in my tunnel and they do very very well - but you have to have doors open for the pollinators to get in and out!!

Old Bird

;D

I thought I read somewhere that French beans were self pollinating?

You may be right Ollie - never stopped to question this - but they still do grow very well indeed in a polytunnel!

O B

Indeed they will, French beans typically pollinate themselves before the flower has even opened, the stamen and style are in physical contact with one another so the pollen is shed directly onto the stigma, so lack of wind and insects should make no difference whatever.

Quote from: amphibian on May 17, 2010, 12:16:46
Indeed they will, French beans typically pollinate themselves before the flower has even opened, the stamen and style are in physical contact with one another so the pollen is shed directly onto the stigma, so lack of wind and insects should make no difference whatever.

I was hoping that was going to be the answer!

Is this the same for the climbing french beans too?

Quote from: GodfreyRob on May 17, 2010, 12:45:00

Quote from: amphibian on May 17, 2010, 12:16:46
Indeed they will, French beans typically pollinate themselves before the flower has even opened, the stamen and style are in physical contact with one another so the pollen is shed directly onto the stigma, so lack of wind and insects should make no difference whatever.

I was hoping that was going to be the answer!

Is this the same for the climbing french beans too?

Yes.

Runners don't.  :-X

Proof of the pudding?

I grow 'Cobra' in the polytunnel I find this is where I get best results with this variety!

Outdoors I would say I only get about 50% of the crop I get from the tunnel.

Runners need the bees the others don't XX Jeannine