runner beans

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by nobbyhigo2, Jan 11, 2009.

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  1. nobbyhigo2

    nobbyhigo2 Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi just about to start looking for this years seeds and could do with info on which runner and broad beans to sow looking for stringless seem to remember seeing on tv a Italian bean that stayed stringless but cant remember the name but any help would be useful cheers
     
    nobbyhigo2, Jan 11, 2009
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  2. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    Have you thought about trying climbing french beans Nobby? I now grow in them in preference to runners as they are tenderer and don't get stringy quite so quickly if you don't pick regularly.
     
    Dave W, Jan 11, 2009
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  3. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

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    Nobby, runner bean, Enorma. Broad bean, The Sutton.:gnthb:
     
    daitheplant, Jan 11, 2009
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  4. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    We've gone off Runner Beans because of the work to de-string them (particularly if you fail to harvest them regularly!!) so we grow Climbing French Bean "Limka" instead - which is referred to here as "flat beans"
     
    Kristen, Jan 11, 2009
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  5. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

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    Enorma can grow 16" to 18" and still be stringless.:gnthb:
     
    daitheplant, Jan 11, 2009
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  6. nobbyhigo2

    nobbyhigo2 Apprentice Gardener

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    cheers for the replies good idea with french will try enorma limka and the sutton and add berlotto to try red coloured beans will try anything to get the family to eat beans
     
    nobbyhigo2, Jan 11, 2009
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  7. sweetpeas

    sweetpeas Gardener

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    for the red ones try canadian wonder, there used as a red kidney bean
     
    sweetpeas, Jan 12, 2009
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  8. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    French Beans are always a bit more reliable than Runners in producing beans in my experience. The difference is that Runner beans need to be pollinated and the French beans are self pollinating. If the bees have a bad year or even a couple of weeks of it being too cold, then you don't get such good crops with runners. Last year was OK but in recent years we have had problems when there has been a cold snap and the bees stay at home, we get lots of leaves but the flowers just fall off without any beans forming - thats very frustrating.
     
    JWK, Jan 12, 2009
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  9. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I haven't really noticed a problem with Runners pollinating JWK, we've always had too many of the things! but one thing to note is that our French Bean Limka harvest season is shorter than the Runners.

    Might try sowing some a bit later to stretch the harvest.

    Would it be worth putting a few in the greenhouse to get an early crop, or is that daft? If I could get some cropping until the main harvest starts, and then pull them up (and give the Tomatoes more light/air/space), I would consider that a good result!
     
    Kristen, Jan 12, 2009
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  10. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Not daft at all! I have tried this with success kristen, they do grow very fast in the greenhouse and it ends up like a jungle in no time - saves putting shading up! I would definately go for early french beans in a greenhouse, rather than runners from the pollination point of view - the Bees have much more difficulty finding them inside.
     
    JWK, Jan 12, 2009
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  11. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Cheers John, I've added it to my ToDo list!
     
    Kristen, Jan 12, 2009
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  12. oktarine

    oktarine Gardener

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    Blue Lake are fantastic croppers for Climbing French Beans, and I have to go with Dai on the runners, though not my choice this year.

    I'm also growing Climbing Peas (yes - peas) this year!
     
    oktarine, Jan 19, 2009
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  13. sweetpeas

    sweetpeas Gardener

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    Tell us more about this climbing pea please Oktraine
     
    sweetpeas, Jan 20, 2009
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  14. oktarine

    oktarine Gardener

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    oktarine, Jan 20, 2009
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  15. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    shiney, Jan 22, 2009
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