[chimaera]

As for protein per square metre in a plot, I am sure that runner beans must take some beating even if the % protein is not very high, you must be able to get a lot of (protein rich) ripe beans from a single teepee of plants, far more than in a short row of soya.

Charlie

[JayG]

It's an interesting discussion!

I think the yield from runner beans grown for their mature beans would be quite low compared to picking at the usual "edible pod" stage as flowering tends to shut down if pods are allowed to develop fully.

[galen]

Does anyone grow soy beans in the UK i might try and get hold of some and try some.

I had a go at growing soya last year to pick green as edemame (sp?) Not a great success; it said on the packet to keep covered till they germinate, but most rotted off. The survivors did OK, but I picked them too late and they had gone a bit hard; the pods are smaller than the ones in restaurants.
I saved the seeds and am trying again; put some in modules in a greenhouse 10 days ago and most are up . As they all seemed to ripen at once and I want them green, I an going to try a 2 m row of 12 plants every 2 weeks and see how it goes.
I am also trying chick peas, which you can apparently eat green as well as dried. A lady on the plot gave me a handful of soaked chick peas from the shop and I forgot about them for a few days and they all chitted. I have them all in modules about to go out. I am assuming that they are small bushy plants but have no idea.

Charlie

Although Charlie managed to grow some good old Dr Hessayon reckons they're not reliable in the UK.    You can but try 

[Salmo]

It is pretty certain that if there was a good variety that would ripen in the UK it would be grown by farmers on a large scale.

[Swing Swang]

Still Dr Hessayon isn't always right, have you seen some of the cooking times that he reccommends for his veg? He must like them boiled to death.

[Rangerkris]

I will stick with my powder supplement for now then.

[Snoop]

I pondered on growing pulses for a while but dried chickpeas and beans are so ridiculously cheap here it hardly seems worth while growing them compared with fresh veg.

[New shoot]

I've grown soy - T&M sell a variety that's chosen for good performance in the UK.  They make short bushy little plants and as the beans ripen the plants suck all the energy out of the leaves to form them and the leaves all drop. I picked them green and they were OK, but no sensation and the seeds are not cheap.

My new fave is dwarf borlotti which I also pick green - well pink and white but you know what I mean.  I save seed year on year so my original Franchii packet has paid for itself several times over now    Fresh borlotti cook quickly and are lovely in salads, pasta sauces and summer 'half the plot' soups.