Am I late to sow runner beans?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Eden1, Jul 31, 2019.

  1. Eden1

    Eden1 Gardener

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    Another day another question, I'm definitely getting more from the group than I'm contributing.

    Anyway I have a packet of Runner Beans 'White Emergo' and was wondering if its too late to sow them. I'm in Northern Ireland zone 8b.
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    Yes it is too late Eden 1:)
    Keep the packet for next year:)
     
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    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

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      It doesn't matter how much you contribute Eden1 and if you're gaining from others experience here all well and good. :thumbsup:

      Yes, as Verdun has said it's too late in the season now. They would grow but you wouldn't see any beans this year.
       
    • Eden1

      Eden1 Gardener

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      This variety are supposed to have nice white flowers. Would they climb and flower if I planted them just for astehetics without any hope of beans.
       
    • Mike Allen

      Mike Allen Total Gardener

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      Hi Eden 1. Usual practice is to sow Runners in Late April/Early May - end of June.

      If started off in pots then a couple of weeks earlier.
       
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      • KFF

        KFF Total Gardener

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        I think you're too far north, but in case anyone in southern England is reading there are two varieties that can still be sown now which will still give a good crop this year, they are Polestar and Celbration.
         
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        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

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          Yes, a good variety Eden 1.....I grow white flowered beans in preference to red....for me better taste, better cropping and more attractive :)
          However, there just isn’t time for them to germinate, grow and flower. August tomorrow?
          Gardening, like most everything, is a constant learning curve. :)

          Try them by all means though....let us know how you get on.
           
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          • Sheal

            Sheal Total Gardener

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            It would be mid to late September at the earliest by the time they reached the point of flowering, with daylight hours fading and cooler weather at that time I'd be surprised if they flowered.
             
          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

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            Absolutely Sheal :)
            Remember too, speed of growth will have slowed by the end of August.....a single cold night will be enough to dramatically affect runner bean foliage.
            Down here I have picked beans well into late September but the growth had already been made from spring to mid summer.
             
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            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              I'm experimenting with runners up here this year. They were planted out in early June are flowering now but whether it's too late for them to produce beans remains to be seen. There's nothing showing as yet.
               
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              • Verdun

                Verdun Passionate gardener

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                It all depends on how warm the next few weeks are Sheal....primarily how cool the nights may get.
                Fingers crossed you will be eating your beans before too long.:)
                Been picking beans here for a week, 10 days and yesterday’s rain seems to have brought on a mass of white flowers and beans :)
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  We have a short growing season here Verdun and that combined with a cold, wet spring and early summer has held everything back. May is usually a good sunny, very warm month here but not this year. My other experiment with tomatoes outside is just as slow. I have a few green marbles at the moment. :doh::)
                   
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                  • Mike Allen

                    Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                    It can at times become quite complexing. A perhaps typical scenario. What a wonderful day, not too hot, sunny, slight breeze. Of course it's the ideal for our plants. Or is it? So starting with our flower beds. In truth. So many of those drated weeds are actually here in our beds and borders, having been cultivated and perhaps improved or adapted. Generally speaking. This class of plants have to be accepted as Natural. Come wind or storm, snow or hail. These plants along with........grass, are the home dwellers.

                    Now we come to the present day converts. In the veg garden, many of what have become part and parcel of our daily needs. Starting with the common spud. This is a close relative to one of the most deadliest plants. Deadly nightshade. Tomatos also belong to the same family. So sorry my friends. Suddenly I don't feel too good. Sorry. Nite nite
                     
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                    • Sian in Belgium

                      Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                      Frustrating, isn’t it!?

                      I showed my runners back in April or May. They have been at the top of the poles (well over 2 metres) for weeks and were flowering profusely. But not a single bean to be seen.

                      For us it has been just too hot, I think!
                       
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        I would also advocate trying them. Germination time should be quite quick in these warmer days (compared to earlier in the year) and they should, at least, produce some flower. Depending on pollinators in your area you may even get some beans but I wouldn't hold your breathe. Keeping the seeds for another year reduces their chance of germinating, particularly as some companies sell the prior season's beans!

                        That's not surprising. :noidea: Runner beans don't like the weather to be too hot and suffer particularly if it's hot and in bright sunshine. Bright sunshine is OK if they're in cooler air as they are in their habitat of origin. They originate in Cetral America but from the highlands where it is cooler. Most of the original varieties brought here by the Victorians came from Mexico.

                        I've experimented in growing them in lowland and highland regions in Brazil (started a school project there) and they didn't do much in the lowland region aprt from produce leaf. :sad:
                         
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