Runner Beans awful this year?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by jazzy, Aug 16, 2021.

  1. Tomhip

    Tomhip Gardener

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  2. Tomhip

    Tomhip Gardener

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    And perhaps mine I've also shrunk lately
     
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    • Tomhip

      Tomhip Gardener

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      From time to time,
      I am apt to rhyme,
      Now unfortunately it seems,
      Gardeners have got knackered beans,
      No matter which way they have been grown,
      Most have cause to have a moan,
      But it will be better next year bumper crops,
      Thumbs up and everything tops :yay:
       
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      • Black Dog

        Black Dog Gardener of useful things

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        My runner beans have a record yield this year. They are hanging full to the brim. I let the ripen till the very end and keep them dried for next year, eating any leftovers from last year.
         
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        • Tomhip

          Tomhip Gardener

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          Well done black dog but I notice you are located in Germany we have had pooey weather over here and we believe that's the reason for the poor crops.
          Good growing to you
          Tomhip
           
        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          Thought I'd better get on with the leaky hose system for my beans. I'd already bought the hose Garden Soaker Watering Hose 15 Metre - Buy Online at QD Stores and fittings https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BPCNRN9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 some time ago.

          Fitted it together like this. It needs boiling water on the hoses to get the fittings in. I did mine at home to save taking a Kelly Kettle, camping stove or calor boiling ring to my plot.

          IMG_20210818_164440970.jpg


          Loads of fittings left to do systems for my outdoor and polytunnel tomatoes, but will need extra end plugs https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JBCX...olid=1CVRB2TYJJZQW&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it Wondering if similar layout but with 3 parallel runs along length of my 25 foot tunnel will be too much and need splitting into two 3 X 12'6" runs.
           
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            Last edited: Aug 18, 2021
          • Tomhip

            Tomhip Gardener

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            Blimey how much have you undercover scrungee can I be cheeky and ask if you are a market gardener I like your system by the way I suppose it will be on a timer? hope it works well for your
            Regards and successful growing
            Tom
             
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            Sounds good to me @Scrungee

            I've been studying my beans for which are doing better. Apart from the Firestorm being the best croppers this year there must me some correlation with which way they are facing. I have eight rows of beans in four double rows and each are about 25ft long.

            The rows run N/S so as to have the least exposure to the hot sun from the south. The runners that are on the furthest west side are doing much worse than the others. I presume that is because we have had hot sun in the afternoons/evenings. It hasn't affected the west facing rows that are protected by rows further west. The French beans haven't been greatly affected by the positioning.
             
          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Not at a remote alotment plot, and probably not for outdoor stuff like beans even at home, as the amount of hose watering would vary daily according to temperatures and rainfall, although polytunnel watering is fairly consistent.

            I just want to connect the end of my hosepipe here and there whilst getting on with other things, plus avoid splashing water all over leaves of certain plants. If possible, I actually prefer using a hosepipe to fill water buts scattered around my plot and then dip water cans in them.
             
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            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              Runners are supposed to like their leaves in full sun, but their pods in shade. The orientation of mine is dictated by being on a new plot at the top of an exposed site and having to be in the only relatively sheltered location with the end of row facing the prevailing wind.

              A smaller trial row elsewhere got battered, so I'm sticking with my original choice of location which has performed much better than those grown by others further down the slope, and they would have been even more prolific if it wasn't a year I devoted most of them to seed saving.
               
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                With mine the side most exposed to winds is the south because that is where the open field is. The plants are partially protect by fruit trees to the south with just a few of them in full shade for 2/3 of the day. Those still produce well but not as well as the ones out of the shade.

                So I think the degree of success depends on a whole gamut of reasons. The best performing plants in my garden are those in no shade, apart from that from other beans, and better protected from the wind and the hottest part of the sunshine. The ones in the middle and those facing east are always the best performers.

                I was involved in experiments in growing runner beans in schools in Brazil mainly, in Sao Paulo. As a food crop it was a failure but those grown in more shaded and less hot positions produced a lot of flower (the original reason the Victorians brought them to this country) but virtually no edible fruit. The reason we experimented in Sao Paulo was because I knew some teachers there and because it is 2,300 ft above sea level. At sea level the plants wouldn't survive because of the heat. Their normal cropping level in Central and S. America is above 6000ft.
                 
              • Tomhip

                Tomhip Gardener

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                Blimey shiney its complicated ain't it!! you almost need a science degree it says to me! and if you get a good crop its more by luck and circumstance ah well I find French beans always come up trumps a really good variety is Cobra
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  Not really. :) I always end up with a good crop and sometimes a fantastic crop. If I get time, and remember to do it, I'll dig out a photo.

                  Time to cook my dinner now. :biggrin:
                   
                • Tomhip

                  Tomhip Gardener

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                  Are you having beans:)
                   
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                  • Scrungee

                    Scrungee Well known for it

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                    In addition to serving with hot cooked meals, I also enjoy cold cooked runner beans in pesto sauce with my salads, so they can be eaten twice a day.
                     
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