Runner beans not setting

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jul 7, 2022.

  1. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I always found runner beans to be a glut or famine crop, not a nice steady supply.
    But i guess that depends, if you have lots of people to feed it's a different matter.
     
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    • Jiffy

      Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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      Picked the first beans today for evening dinner not many so mix with some from last year
       
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      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

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        Pollen is more viable in the morning before the sun shines on it with Daylily's / Hemerocallis if I am crossing plants I have to use the pollen early in the morning as late afternoon the pollen is dead as such ...
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          Makes sense, day lilies being a new flower every day.
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I have a few small beans forming but now I have a blackfly infestation.
           
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          • john558

            john558 Total Gardener

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            I spend each morning checking the back of the leaves for Blackfly, now looking at the stems. Not seen one Ladybird yet.
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              My broad beans came close to nearly being destroyed by blackfly.
               
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              • infradig

                infradig Gardener

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                Both early (april) sowing and may batch have now exceeded the sticks by 3 feet. Some beans in the top 4 feet of growth have been enjoyed but although heathy looking, they have ceased flowering due to the drought conditions. water butts empty and hosepipe ban imminent. If I share my bathwater with them, can anybody suggest means of kick starting , by pruning or feeding , so that they burst back into bloom? Surely there could be 8 weeks or so left in the bean season yet?
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                If you're unable to keep watering then you should nip out the tops that are going well past the canes. The plants will then not have to try and support those tops of them.

                We have been able to keep watering our beans well, very heavy watering two or three times a week and not light watering more frequently, and they are doing OK but suffering from the heat. No significant rain in over four months with nothing forecast.

                I'm now picking 3lb-4lb per day - but we have a lot of plants. Some of the plants have given up on us :sad:
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Mine are doing adequately now, picking a couple of lbs every few days. The plants are infested with blackfly so we have to wash the pods in soapy water to get rid of the sticky residue. I sprayed with neem oil a couple of days ago as a last resort.

                  The french beans on the other hand are pest free and providing us with much more.
                   
                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  The blackfly came back onto our runners, only some of them, and were very thick along the stems. I blasted them off with the hose four days ago and no sign of return this morning. Our French beans are also pest free.
                   
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                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                    Planted some late beans on Aug 5 and been picking for a few days :) DSCF3033.JPG
                    DSCF3031.JPG
                     
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                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        Looking goo @Jiffy :blue thumb:

                        Our later planted beans (late June) are getting close to finishing. May planted beans have just finished. I may try planting some late July next year.
                         
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                        • Spruce

                          Spruce Glad to be back .....

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