[Welsh Merf]

My beloved Mrs James loves runner beans, but if she eats a string she'll be put off instantly. Hence, what are your recommendations regarding stringless runner beans? Any "guaranteed stringless" varieties out there?

[mumofstig]

I don't think there is such a thing - all of them will get stringy if you don't pick them small/young enough.

White Lady is very good, but even she gets strings if you wait til the pods are bumpy

[JayG]

Even the stringless varieties (and White Lady are very good in that respect) are more inclined to get stringy as you get into late summer - I don't know why for sure but my guess is it's because they take longer to grow to a pickable size, so they've had more time to grow strings than they would have earlier in the season.

Hope that makes some sort of sense! 

[Steveharford]

Just keep picking them before they get too big. If in doubt snap one. If its stringy chuck it. Never had a problem as I always grow so many I can be choosy. Incidentally I grew Wisley Magic for the first time this year. What a cropper. No strings yet either.

[heygrow]

White lady this year. Lots of runners and no stringy ones yet, not even the larger ones. I do try and pick them before they get fat with beans in though.
Lady Di (from T&M) last couple of years have all been stringless right though a long season and heavy croppers

[Welsh Merf]

Thank you all for the advice! Much love and blessings!