Runner Beans

[Longdogs]

@Mups

Have a look through these Dongles, see if anything grabs at yer.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/vegetable/runner-beans/varieties.php

thanks Mups, will have a look at that.

@JBR

Marge says you should pluck them from the stem sooner rather than later, or they will become stringy and tough.

I was doing that and it worked for a while but in the end they became rock hard and didn’t soften when cooked,

@Meg

I ordered my runner beans yesterday 'Aintree ’ tender beans with lots of flavours . I eat mine small only allowing them to grow to 9in maximum.

Thanks Meg. Yes, I have noted Aintree from your comments last year.

@Barry

I have tried all varieties over the years but always go back to “Moonlight”, a white flowered variety with a reliable set and good flavour, in fact it is the only variety that I grow now.

Thanks Barry. Will watch out for those too. I have not grown from seed before but will give it a go. I don’t have a greenhouse so will have to sow indoors.

Last year I just bought plants but then you can’t be so choosy about which ones to grow.

[AnnieS]

Is it too early to start sowing?

[Longdogs]

@AnnieS

Is it too early to start sowing?

I think so, I’m just being a bit previous.

[InOrOut]

I’ve got Aqudulce broad beans in. Sowed in root-trainers last October, planted out in early November. They are 30cm high now and just need a bit of frost protection now and again. I’m hoping for an early crop.

[Longdogs]

@Mups

Have a look through these Dongles, see if anything grabs at yer.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/vegetable/runner-beans/varieties.php

Thanks Mups. I have made a note of a few to watch out for along with Aintree and Moonlight.

I wonder how the runners beans we buy are able to get so long without being fibrous?

[mart]

Runner beans are grown on the allotment where I help out. I know nothing about the best way to grow them but I was asked to dig out a quite deep and wide trench in preparation for this year’s crop.

The trench was lined with newspaper and over the next few weeks, it was filled with old cabbage cuttings, potato peelings and generally any waste that would decompose. Some compost too I think.

When all this was about a foot or more deep, the earth from the trench was shovelled in over the top. The bean poles will be erected here and this year’s beans grown.

I’m told this will make a difference to the quality of the runner beans because the roots grow into the compost. I hope that’s right because digging that trench and then shovelling the earth back in was damned hard work.

[AnnieS]

I wonder if slugs and snails would be more interested in newspaper and decomposed peelings than in the plant itself? That would be an interesting experiment.

[Meg]

@mart

Runner beans are grown on the allotment where I help out. I know nothing about the best way to grow them but I was asked to dig out a quite deep and wide trench in preparation for this year’s crop.

The trench was lined with newspaper and over the next few weeks, it was filled with old cabbage cuttings, potato peelings and generally any waste that would decompose. Some compost too I think.

When all this was about a foot or more deep, the earth from the trench was shovelled in over the top. The bean poles will be erected here and this year’s beans grown.

I’m told this will make a difference to the quality of the runner beans because the roots grow into the compost. I hope that’s right because digging that trench and then shovelling the earth back in was damned hard work.

I always dig a trench and have used newspaper,grass cuttings,leaf mold,spent mushroom compost anything in the bottom that will hold moisture. Runner beans are thirsty plants .

[mart]

It looks like it’s the best thing to do then Meg. At least I get a fair share of them when the time comes …plus courgettes, butternut squash, cabbage and anything else she has grown. I’ve requested radishes this year,

[Meg]

@mart

It looks like it’s the best thing to do then Meg. At least I get a fair share of them when the time comes …plus courgettes, butternut squash, cabbage and anything else she has grown. I’ve requested radishes this year,

That’s good Mart to me home grown vegetables taste so much better than bought ones

[mart]

True Meg. The tomatoes she grows are really better than anything that can be bought in the supermarket. Then there’s all the fruit bushes. Mainly raspberries and red currents. I can pick those at will.

In return, I do the digging, fence building and earth moving, which I’m still reasonably OK with. Got to earn my greens.

[Longdogs]

@mart

Runner beans are grown on the allotment where I help out. I know nothing about the best way to grow them but I was asked to dig out a quite deep and wide trench in preparation for this year’s crop.

The trench was lined with newspaper and over the next few weeks, it was filled with old cabbage cuttings, potato peelings and generally any waste that would decompose. Some compost too I think.

When all this was about a foot or more deep, the earth from the trench was shovelled in over the top. The bean poles will be erected here and this year’s beans grown.

I’m told this will make a difference to the quality of the runner beans because the roots grow into the compost. I hope that’s right because digging that trench and then shovelling the earth back in was damned hard work.

@Meg

I always dig a trench and have used newspaper,grass cuttings,leaf mold,spent mushroom compost anything in the bottom that will hold moisture. Runner beans are thirsty plants .

Only just seen this. Thanks very much.

[Longdogs]

I’m interested in this cabbage filled trench idea and will give it a go I think. Should the composting material be left for a while before planting the beans out or are they planted straight away?

I managed to get some of the ‘Moonlight’ variety yesterday at my local garden centre.

[Meg]

@Longdogs

I’m interested in this cabbage filled trench idea and will give it a go I think. Should the composting material be left for a while before planting the beans out or are they planted straight away?

I managed to get some of the ‘Moonlight’ variety yesterday at my local garden centre.

Hi LD I usually dig my trench about a month before planting out placing about 9’’ of topsoil on top of the compost.
I don’t plant my bean seeds directly in the ground because of slugs instead I plant them in pots in the spare bedroom and transplant them out when they are about 6 inches high having first hardened them off .

[Longdogs]

@Meg

Hi LD I usually dig my trench about a month before planting out placing about 9’’ of topsoil on top of the compost.
I don’t plant my bean seeds directly in the ground because of slugs instead I plant them in pots in the spare bedroom and transplant them out when they are about 6 inches high having first hardened them off .

Thank Meg. I will give it a go this year and report back. :-p

[Longdogs]

Well, it’s that time again.

I have two areas for the beans, one is in a large pot and the other in the ground with Meg’s trench idea. I sowed out in position about two weeks ago but so far no sign of them. I’m sure last year they were showing within a few days. I might have to keep an eye out for plants just in case they don’t work.

Anyone else having problems or am I just being impatient as usual?

[Mags]

@Longdogs

Well, it’s that time again.

I have two areas for the beans, one is in a large pot and the other in the ground with Meg’s trench idea. I sowed out in position about two weeks ago but so far no sign of them. I’m sure last year they were showing within a few days. I might have to keep an eye out for plants just in case they don’t work.

Anyone else having problems or am I just being impatient as usual?

Are you sure you didn’t plant the beans upside down, LD?

[Longdogs]

@Mags

Are you sure you didn’t plant the beans upside down, LD?

That did actually cross my mind when I was out there scratching my head. :-p

[Meg]

@Longdogs

Well, it’s that time again.

I have two areas for the beans, one is in a large pot and the other in the ground with Meg’s trench idea. I sowed out in position about two weeks ago but so far no sign of them. I’m sure last year they were showing within a few days. I might have to keep an eye out for plants just in case they don’t work.

Anyone else having problems or am I just being impatient as usual?

Hi LD I sowed one lot of beans in pots at the end of April and put them in spare bedroom, they were up in a week/hardened off /planted out and are doing ok .

I decided to plant another row to stagger the crop , I sowed them directly into the ground over two weeks ago and there is no sign of them .

My brother in law planted a first lot in his greenhouse at the end of April and there is no sign of them .

[Longdogs]

@Meg

Hi LD I sowed one lot of beans in pots at the end of April and put them in spare bedroom, they were up in a week/hardened off /planted out and are doing ok

I decided to plant another row to stagger the crop , I sowed them directly into the ground over two weeks ago and there is no sign of them .

My brother in law planted a first lot in his greenhouse at the end of April and there is no sign of them .

Spooky! :shock:

That’s weird, I’m sure it has been warm enough to start them off. Oh well, I just need to be more patient I suppose. The plants I bought last year came up quickly but I wasn’t over keen on the beans themselves whereas this time I have some recommended on here.