Runner Beans

[mrs fish]

How are peoples runner beans?
The flowers are not turning into beans for me, this is the first time this has happened, any ideas?

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

How are peoples runner beans?
The flowers are not turning into beans for me, this is the first time this has happened, any ideas?

No idea but last year our neighbours had the same problem but my husbands grew beautifully it looked like a tree in flower and we had a good crop.This year they didnt even grow the darn slugs ate the seedlings as they came up My friend has an allotment and grows lots of things with great success.I see her later so I will ask her.Welcome to WAB

[daphers]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

How are peoples runner beans?
The flowers are not turning into beans for me, this is the first time this has happened, any ideas?

Hi, I'm Daphers. I hope I am doing this right. Our runners have had a lot of flowers nipped off so we are not getting so many beans as usual. Never had this happen before. The beans we are getting are very stringy very quickly. Whether it's the hot, dry summer we don't know although my husband soaks them regularly.

[catalaze]

I can't explain the un-beani-ness of your beans but a good way to protect the seedlings (indeed, any seedlings) from slugs and snails follows. Save clear, large, plastic water or similar bottles. Cut off the top and bottom. This can be best achieved by stabbing carefully with a kitchen knife:

a) Below the neck where the bottle becomes straight
&
b) Above the bottom, where the thickening ends

Then use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut around the bottle and remove the ends. Remove labels and wash and rinse carefully to get rid of any sticky residue.

After planting the seedlings, push the resultant plastic tube into the soil over and around the plant. Slugs and snails can't climb in & the seedlings grow well afterwards. Do check for the first couple of nights, though, that you haven't inadvertently trapped any of these creatures inside the bottle ...

[nightshade]

I had not noticed but the Lioness says there were fewer flowers this year but last year was a bumper harvest

[Tinkerbell]

Very little vegetation on mine, but plenty of flowers - don't get watered by hand very often. Now the beans are appearing, and look fairly good. I don't think there will be more than a pound or two though.

Think

[mrs fish]

Oh well the flowers look good and the bees like them.
Re the slugs and snails eating them I have to stop the woodpigeons eating my new bean plants!

[Airehead]

If your weather has been the same as mine, they probably just haven't had enough rain.

[colinaj]

Get yourself a nylon paint brush & pollinate the flowers manually water them & I mean soak them with a couple of gallons at least. In the winter dig a deep trench put newspaer cut up & compst in the trench fill in in spring & plant in this this will promote growth no end & the newspaper will retain water. dilute Goose droppings is a good feeder &once the flowers have st try wayering wit tomorite as you need something to promote the growth of the beans
Good Luck.
caj

[Diane E]

Hi Mrs Fish. I had the same thing until recently. I seemed to have had lots of (lovely) flowers on my runner bean plants for ages and ages - but no beans. Then a couple of weeks ago - hey presto! - lots of beans. Yesterday was actually the first time I picked any.

I think it was extra watering that got mine going. Pretty sure it wasn't feeding in my case.

Maybe extra water, then? There is still time, isn't there?