[Maryann]

Hello
I appreciate this probably isn't a 'New' topic but can anyone advise me why my Runner Beans are not forming pods please.

The beans are Enorma variety and have produced lots of healthy looking bright red flowers but now flowers are falling off and where I would normally expect to see the tiny pods forming there is nothing.

Not grown this variety before but the beans came from a reliable source (DD   ) and I just wonder what I have done wrong.

The beans have a lot of black fly or back aphids on them (and ants) but have sprayed with organic bug spray in hope of getting rid of them - could this have caused the problem. It says it is specifically for fruit and veg bug control.

Seeds were sown in paper pots and raised indoors then planted out in new bed. Nothing grown in soil previously and we dug it well but it could have done with better preparation I will admit.
Other beans growing well in same bed though, Dwarf french beans already picking those.

But Purple beans not even flowering yet.

Any thoughts?

[Aunt Sally]

I've never had this problem but this is a quote from Hessayon:

NO PODS

One of the major problems with runner beans is their tendency to lose their flowers without forming pods.  Sparrows can be the culprits, and so can bumble bees.  Cool weather at flowering time results in a lack of pollinating insects, but the failure of beans is always worst in a hot dry season.  Keeping the roots moist by digging in compost, by mulching and watering is helpful, but recent research has shown that the practice of spraying the flowers is of little value.  The best way to avoid the problem is to grow a white- or pink-flowering variety.

[Maryann]

Hi Aunt Sally

Thanks for reply. I do have most of the Hessayon books and did see that quote but I'm fairly certain it's not sparrows. I don't think even we in the South can claim a hot dry season and due to our lawn being smothered in clover this year we have more than our fair share of bees.

Could be the Bumble Bees I suppose  :?  Wonder how you win on that one, not enough bees is a problem yet he says B.Bees cause problems.

I was hoping there might be some more expert opinions on here than dear old Dr Hessayon  

Does this mean I wont get any Runners at all this year I wonder :cry:

[Brambles]

Don't know if this is any help..  but my runners had the same problem,  they flowered for ages, then the existing flowers seemed to drop off.  Then all of a sudden I find that they are begining to form pods, and I had a couple of beans for my dinner last night!  Today I noticed there are quite a few more little mini pods on my plants.

[Maryann]

Don't know if this is any help..  but my runners had the same problem,  they flowered for ages, then the existing flowers seemed to drop off.  Then all of a sudden I find that they are begining to form pods, and I had a couple of beans for my dinner last night!  Today I noticed there are quite a few more little mini pods on my plants.

Ah well, maybe I just need to be a little patient and have 'faith'  

Thanks Brambles

I thought it was something I might have done/or not done..... if you see what I mean.

M.

[gobs]

Don't know if this is any help..  but my runners had the same problem,  they flowered for ages, then the existing flowers seemed to drop off.  Then all of a sudden I find that they are begining to form pods, and I had a couple of beans for my dinner last night!  Today I noticed there are quite a few more little mini pods on my plants.

Ah well, maybe I just need to be a little patient and have 'faith'  

Thanks Brambles

I thought it was something I might have done/or not done..... if you see what I mean.

M.

Yes, once your clover finished floweringthe beesmight resort to your runners.

Make sure though there are no signs of virus on them, like yellow-green mottled leaves,distortion, out of colour and/or shape foliage, stalks. Mosaic can cause blindness, too. If not, it is most likely pollination and bumbles are no prob, they are pollinators of beans.

[Aunt Sally]

I've never had this problem but this is a quote from Hessayon:

NO PODS

One of the major problems with runner beans is their tendency to lose their flowers without forming pods.  Sparrows can be the culprits, and so can bumble bees.  Cool weather at flowering time results in a lack of pollinating insects, but the failure of beans is always worst in a hot dry season.  Keeping the roots moist by digging in compost, by mulching and watering is helpful, but recent research has shown that the practice of spraying the flowers is of little value.  The best way to avoid the problem is to grow a white- or pink-flowering variety.

The bits I particularly thought may apply to you I've highlighted in red.

I'm down in Kent too and I've been very well watering my runners at least twice a week for the last month.  Many parts of the country are wet this summer but NOT Kent  :!:

[gobs]

Also spraying against bugs at flowering time, unlikely to help pollination.

[Maryann]

I don't have an allotment - using space in the garden at the moment. We have 3 raised beds and using up every spare patch we can. The upside to this means I can water every day when needed - sometimes morning and evening. Also use soaker hoses around the garden boarders so I'm sure the ground isn't dry. Our rear garden is about 120' in length x 50' wide and have allocated one corner to the raised beds.

We do have lots of mature trees on boundaries so are always watering (when hosepipe ban not in force  :cry: ) and ground is nearly always grateful for it.

I have been guilty of spraying plants to get rid of bugs so maybe it is that. No chemicals and labels say all natural stuff so I thougt it would be OK to use it as the flowers were covered in black fly which I thought would cause problems.

We have roses, honeysuckle, buddlea, and foxglove near to veg beds and they are swarming with bees - as well as the grass clover so they should be visiting the beans. My corgettes are eventually forming after a late start and have lots of flowers so fingers crossed all will be well.

If the beans fail this year it will be our first year ever without our own so we will be disappointed.

Fingers crossed all will be OK, and thanks for your help......now just need to get those wretched raspberries sorted  :evil:

[Brambles]

I think you will be fine with your beans soon.  I have plenty today for dinner and my courgettes, while only just fruiting, actually have 2 courgettes on them!  Incidenally, I never spray anything, blackfly just get wiped off and I have found that usually the ladybirds keep them down, if anything gets too 'black', I just wipe them off.  
I do hope that your beans turn out to be just late developers!

[DD.]

It's not my bean seed!!!!!!!!

Mine are fine!

[gobs]

I don't have an allotment - using space in the garden at the moment. We have 3 raised beds and using up every spare patch we can. The upside to this means I can water every day when needed - sometimes morning and evening. Also use soaker hoses around the garden boarders so I'm sure the ground isn't dry.

We have roses, honeysuckle, buddlea, and foxglove near to veg beds and they are swarming with bees - as well as the grass clover so they should be visiting the beans.

Nobody on our site ever waters runners other than on planting.

They should be... however, they will visit the sweeter, more attractive flowers and said to keep going back if they liked it, so a lot of more tempting flowers can actually present a competition.

Bees do not see red either, so it is advised tostick with white flowered varieties if you have a problem.

[Big Jen]

My beans seem very late this year. They are now covered in flowers and lots of tiny , one inch long beans. Think I am going to get them all at once this year! I have always found it essential to water a lot when flowers are there.
BJ

[Maryann]

It's not my bean seed!!!!!!!!

Mine are fine!

         

You sure DD........you didn't send me a load of duff'uns did you???


Look, you only have to read my posts to realise what a complet twit I am to know it's something I must have done and not your lovely beans.

I'm now worried that all the lovely plants in my garden are seducing the bees away from the beans...........you just can't win can you  

[Maryann]

Panic over ..............for now anyway  

First sign of pods are appearing but my poor beans are smothered in black fly.

I'm trying everything to get rid of them without resorting to chemicals but I feel I am fighting a losing battle this year.

My garden seems worse than ever, green, red and blackfly everywhere

What are you using to combat the dreaded fly - any tips?

Cheers
M.