[mrs bouquet]

Of our runner beans, last year I bought plants ready grown and popped them straight out.  This year we have grown them from seed.   They are out all day, and in the greenhouse by night, and are about 6 to 8 inches high.     But, are the tops supposed to be pinched out at any stage.

2nd question same with dwarf beans, do I pinch those out or not.  Thanks,  Mrs Bouquet

[Aunt Sally]

No and No Mrs B 

[DD.]

Oh, I'd have said no.

[Babstreefern]

Definitely no to the second question, but on the first, I would pinch them out when they reach the top of the (in my plot) 8' canes.   If not, they attract the blackfly.  I was told this by an elderly bloke (who I won't name, Norman ).  And believe me he's right.  Last year, I didn't pinch them out, and I got blackfly for the first time.

[DD.]

I've never piched out the tops of runners & just let them go. I usually find that blackfly occur earlier in the season, rather than when the runners are 3 feet above the canes!

In previous seasons these extra bits have flowered late & given a bonus crop.

[blackbob]

Of our runner beans, last year I bought plants ready grown and popped them straight out.  This year we have grown them from seed.   They are out all day, and in the greenhouse by night, and are about 6 to 8 inches high.     But, are the tops supposed to be pinched out at any stage.

2nd question same with dwarf beans, do I pinch those out or not.  Thanks,  Mrs Bouquet

i just let mine go,but do train them horizontaly along their fence.

[peterjf]

 i let mine run and run , never pinch out out the growing tip , and yes black fly can be a problem early on , but you cound plant marigolds , ect as companion plants

[gobs]

Norman is mixing it with his broad beans. Not that these can't get black fly, but it is rare.

You can stop runners  whatever hight you want to, it's only for convenience though, some say however, it induces brunching with more crop, but in earnest, there is more than plenty anyway and then some more...

[mumofstig]

I know i caused comment last time i posted it  but my dad taught me to pinch the tops of runners out before they reach the top to increase the number of shoots for more flowers and therefore more beans.

[Salmo]

If your beans are a bit leggy it is a good idea to take out the first running shoots. Two shoots will appear at the first node down and flowers will be produced nearer the bottom of the supports.

Some commercial growers used to grow an early crop of runners by continually pinching out any running shoots. They called these ground beans as they had no need for any support. The beans produced were a bit curly but they fetched a good price. I suspect this practice has now given way to polytunnels and imports.

[mrs bouquet]

thanks every one for your input, its helped alot.  Regards, and thanks again, Mrs Bouquet

[mumofstig]

If your beans are a bit leggy it is a good idea to take out the first running shoots. Two shoots will appear at the first node down and flowers will be produced nearer the bottom of the supports.

Yay someone agrees with my old dad
I thought i was the only one who had heard of this..........some people on here even suggested i was making an april fools joke
So happy now

[Paul Plots]

I'm hoping my runner beans reach the very top of my frame so no pinching out for me.

Dwarf beans are fairly "dwarf" so, unless they get taller than you want I'd not pich these out either.

I guess it depends what you you want - short & stocky or tall and.....loads of beans!! 

Broad beans - pinching out the top once the beans are there can avoid troublesome blackfly on the tips... These I do pinch out. 

[Diy-king]

I pinch my beans when they are about 5 feet high then they produce new shoots from each leaf joint. This method gives me about 300 pounds from 30 plants.