Self Pollinating Runner Beans

Scrungee · Mar 1, 2013

I mentioned these on another thread (early dwarf beans?) a few days ago and have finally checked them out and found Runner Bean 'Moonlight'

from T&M

Gardening Which? Best Buy Award, May 2012
The answer to gardeners' prayers - guaranteed to set beans in any weather!
A major breakthrough in British runner bean breeding, offering predominantly self setting plants for a guaranteed crop. This profusely white-flowering variety combines the valuable characteristics of French beans with those of runner beans, resulting in extra smooth, very fleshy, stringless pods up to 25cm (10") long, with a great texture and true runner bean taste. The vastly improved flower setting of Runner Bean ‘Moonlight’ means an earlier and continual crop even during poor weather. Height: 3m (10’). Spread: 30cm (12").
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from Marshalls

This new white flowered variety has smooth, stringless pods of excellent flavour.
It produces masses of flowers which set well even in poor weather or high temperatures. This results in heavy crops of tasty beans.
We first saw this outstanding bean in breeder trials in 2007 and having tasted it, made the decision there and then to introduce it as soon as commercial quantities were available.
Moonlight's excellent self pollinating characteristics ensure a good bean set, therefore producing consistently high yields.
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from D&T Brown

This white-flowered runner is partly self-pollinating, which results in bigger yields of tasty, succulent, stringless pods even in poor summers. A real breakthrough for those of us who cannot have enough runner beans in the garden or the freezer. Moonlight is also British-bred...
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Anybody tried them? Last year would have been ideal for a trial.

JWK · Mar 1, 2013

I grew them in 2011 along with Enorma (a normal open pollinated variety), I couldn't remember why I didn't bother trying them again in 2012 till I found this thread:

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/tomatoes-beans-galore.36047/#post-459342

Luckily I'd left myself a clue at post #10.

Last year my Enorma did OK, not exceptional yields but enough for our family.

JWK · Mar 1, 2013

My memory is getting even worse!

Searching on this site it seems I also bought 3 packets of the Firestorm after your post on the "Megalist of Discounts" thread:

GC Megalist of Discounts, Offers & Good Old Freebies

They are in my seed box waiting to be tried this year

From the T&M website:

The first completely self fertile scarlet-flowered runner bean! Runner Bean ‘Firestorm’ produces stringless beans which are slightly thicker, sweeter and more tender than other varieties. This superb runner bean will even set in high temperatures or poor weather, so you can be sure of good crops throughout the summer. With its excellent garden performance and attractive scarlet flowers it no wonder that this variety was given a Gardening Which Award
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These should be better than Moonlight.

Didn't you get some too Scrungee?

Marley Farley · Mar 1, 2013

Snap John, I am trying Firestorm this year too..

JWK · Mar 1, 2013

Good choice Marley

Scrungee · Mar 2, 2013

JWK said: ↑
Searching on this site it seems I also bought 3 packets of the Firestorm after your post on the "Megalist of Discounts" thread
These should be better than Moonlight.

Didn't you get some too Scrungee?
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Yes, but only 9 packets! I got yet another free £5 off voucher from T&M yesterday (no minimum spend, only have to pay P&P (Mrs Scrungee & I both have T&M accounts so we normally get one each) and I was having difficulty working out what to spend it on. I'll continue my search for something different to try this year.

Marley Farley · Mar 2, 2013

I have also been given a trial pack of dwarf French Bean "Castandel" to try for Marshalls which are not out on general sale yet so that will be exciting.. French beans are not my favourite to eat but certainly going to give them a try.. They describe it as "the weekend bean" as it holds well between picking.. So we shall see...

Scrungee · Mar 2, 2013

Scrungee said: ↑
I got yet another free £5 off voucher from T&M yesterday (no minimum spend, only have to pay P&P (Mrs Scrungee & I both have T&M accounts so we normally get one each)
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Guess what? - Postie's just been and we've got yet another £5 T&M voucher!

P.S. Don't mistake "£5 off + Free P&P when you spend over £60" on the front of the catalogue as having to spend over £60 to get both - the £5 off doesn't require any minimum spend (only the free P&P).

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Self Pollinating Runner Beans

Scrungee Well known for it

JWK Gardener Staff Member

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Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

JWK Gardener Staff Member

Scrungee Well known for it

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

Scrungee Well known for it

self pollinating question

Has my gooseberry bush self seeded?

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Self-seeded tomato.

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Self Pollinating Runner Beans

Scrungee Well known for it

JWK Gardener Staff Member

JWK Gardener Staff Member

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

JWK Gardener Staff Member

Scrungee Well known for it

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

Scrungee Well known for it

self pollinating question

Has my gooseberry bush self seeded?

Self Seeded Hibiscus

Self-seeded tomato.

Tomato self-defence

Share This Page

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