[lovemyveg]

Our Scarlet Emperor Runner Beans, which I grew from seed, are not as good as I had hoped.  There are a lot of stringy ones, even when they are picked at a medium size.  Is anyone else having this problem?  Last year I bought plants so I did not know which variety they were, but they were all delicious, whether they were picked small, medium or large.  Can anyone tell me what makes a bean stringy?  Is there a way of avoiding this?  Or what varieties can be suggested for next years runners?

[goodegg]

when you get beans for next year look for varieties marked stringless

[lovemyveg]

when you get beans for next year look for varieties marked stringless

I wasn't aware that these were to be found, other than in french beans maybe - thanks.

[Goosegirl]

There's been a previous thread about runner beans and the tastiest - do a search and see what was said. I've grown Armstrong this year for the first time and am impressed with the plants, growth, harvest and taste - they also don't need stringing. I believe T+M supply them but Kings seeds do also and seeds are postage free!!!

[Domino]

I have grown Scarlet Emperor for years and this year is the best for ages - don't know why.  Mind you this years are from seed that I saved from last year so maybe I have my own sub-species.....?
They do get stringy when big but I always pick them when smallish as they are really tasty and strings aren't a problem.  Have grown others but prefer the taste of these.

[philskin]

hello lovemyveg this year i grew painted lady which i am dissapointed with also enorma and another lady di i think but the enorma have been awesome ive sold about 60lb at the gate and have more than enough to freeze to keep us going till next year and so far not stringy ,im of the opinion that if you let the ground get to dry this makes them go tough and stringy but this is only my thought not fact .by the way were abouts in shropshire you from im from kinnerley nr shrewsbury

[Ivor Backache]

,im of the opinion that if you let the ground get to dry this makes them go tough and stringy but this is only my thought not fact

I agree: I always dig a trench, line it with newspapers and fill with kitchen waste. This helps to conserve moisture. Also before picking I water the plants an hour earlier. The plants take up the water and the pods are more succulent.
Another point: In the last two years we have had sunny weather in May/June and rain afterwards, just when the beans begin to flower. They need pollinating and insects are not there when it rains. I shall be starting my beans  to flower earler.

[DD.]

,im of the opinion that if you let the ground get to dry this makes them go tough and stringy but this is only my thought not fact

Another point: In the last two years we have had sunny weather in May/June and rain afterwards, just when the beans begin to flower. They need pollinating and insects are not there when it rains. I shall be starting my beans  to flower earler.

Actually last year we had a very sharp frost at the end of May and a lot of people lost a lot of plants. So be careful.

I won't be rushing things.

[lovemyveg]

hello lovemyveg this year i grew painted lady which i am dissapointed with also enorma and another lady di i think but the enorma have been awesome ive sold about 60lb at the gate and have more than enough to freeze to keep us going till next year and so far not stringy ,im of the opinion that if you let the ground get to dry this makes them go tough and stringy but this is only my thought not fact .by the way were abouts in shropshire you from im from kinnerley nr shrewsbury

I am 6 miles north of Ludlow.  I believe you are correct about the ground being too dry, with the rain we have been having I have not been watering as much as last year.  Also a farmer's wife told me today that the wind can help towards the stringyness (drying them out I suppose) and that her husband sprays the whole of the runnber bean plant top to bottom on a regular basis.  We learn as we go along, so will take note of all of these comments.

[philskin]

at the bottom my beans are about 4ft apart ,this lets me get in the middle and pick the inside of the frame if you understand me .well earlier even after this rain there was 1 inch wide cracks in the ground so its pretty dry there even after rain etc