[Sleepingpopman]

Morning   
I've grown 'Scarlet Emperor' runner beans for years with great success but this year nothing is going right. I did the same as in past years. I only need 6 to go on a munty frame so I set 8 in seed compost in pot noodle tubs in the unheated green house, 1 came up  so I then set 12 (2 at each cane) direct in the plot but still nothing so I went out & bought new beans, this time 'White Lady' & set 12 again & this time I did get 1 or 2 come up at each cane so as soon as they appeared I put a cut off squash bottles over them & away they went. 2 days ago they were pocking out of the top of the bottles so I took them off & replaced them with 3" deep cardboard rings, with a 1" strip of course glass paper glued around them (homemade idea) & loads of blue pellets but over night something has destroyed 3 of them by shedding the leaves. There's no sign of slugs or snails.
Any thoughts ?
Keith

[BARNACLE BILL]

If it were slugs you would see the trails. Possibly the culprit is rabbits !

BB

[Yorkie]

I've absolutely no idea but there have been so many different people saying they've had problems with bean germination this year, I reckon there's witchcraft around 

[barley]

yep problems here too 

never had probs with runners before - definitely something in the air

[Sleepingpopman]

Hi Everyone 
Thanks for your comments so far. In a way it's nice to know it's not just happening to me this year. Went out to inspect this morning & guess what the visitors have been back over night & now only 1 plant is left untouched  , again no sign of slugs or snails & we don't normally have problems with rabbits here & again no telling signs.
I presume I'm to late to start again for a late crop 
Keith

[Springlands]

It is probably too late for runner beans but you could try dwarf beans. It really does sound as if it could be rabbit problems that you are having - you will not necessarily see any sign of them. I am having really bad problems with them this year and am having to protect all of my plants except for the outdoor tomatoes and cukes which they do not seem to like.