[Floody]

I've never grown Borlotto beans before.  I was told to grow them up a wigwam... but my beans seem to be afraid of heights! 

Should I tie them in to try to encourage them to start climbing - or are they fine as they are and don't need a wigwam??

Floody


 

[diospyros]

They come in two varieties - dwarf and climbing.  Check on the packet if you still have it.  If they are dwarf, they will just grow as a bush.

[GrannieAnnie]

Mine were climbers, and they grew up and over the arch they were planted against.  So perhaps yours are bush ones.   

[mumofstig]

Agree that there are 2 sorts

If they're climbing, perhaps they haven't found the canes yet - mine were wafting around looking for something, so I gently tied them in a couple of days ago.

[Floody]

Thanks for the replies.  I've just checked the packet and they are indeed dwarf beans.

If I had a brain I'd be dangerous - doh! 

[beesrus]

Don't worry Floody, I made the same mistake a year or two back. Most borlotti on the market in mass outlets seem to be dwarf for some reason ( probably because they can't sell them anywhere else  ). A bit strange that as one would expect the dwarf varieties to be the niche market.
I made the same mistake with curly kale one year as well. Both dwarf varieties weren't the best and certainly were not what I wanted, but then I've never been really any good at dwarf plants of any sort. The borlottis were a bg disappointment, but even the tall climbing variety have detractors as to the size of the crop for the effort, as most people let all the beans grow to full maturity, hence reducing the crop I assume. That's not to say you might not have a fantastic crop, you may have stumbled upon the perfect match.
On the climbing thing, my experimental Moonlight runners this year have taken a heck of a time to grab hold of their canes.

[Floody]

Well at least it made a couple of people have a good laugh up at the allotment this afternoon.

Lesson learnt! 

[devonbarmygardener]

Thanks for the replies.  I've just checked the packet and they are indeed dwarf beans.

If I had a brain I'd be dangerous - doh! 

We've all done that on my allotment site!
Don't worry - you're not the first, and you won't be the last

[Yorkie]

I've done that too - although it was in the relative safety of my back garden! 

[Beetroot Queen]

Oh yes that is funny and I have NEVER done that before



Cough cough 

[3 allotments]

  I planted some and forgot that they were dwarf and still put a roll of chicken wire alongside of them they just sit there 

[snowdrops]

   I could so easily have done that as I've only ever grown climbing ones, so thought that was the only sort there was 

[42cherries]

It's a relief to know I'm not the only one who's done this!

[Hampshire Hog]

Don't worry I have planted some that were supposed to be dwarf until they started trying to climb!

Cheers HH