[Dave NE]

First time I have grown this variety and I am very disappointed with the non set of the fruit, 4 ft away I have Blue Lake climbing beens and they are cropping great but Lady Di is a no show, very strange, Dave

[mumofstig]

Blue Lake, a French bean is self pollinating, whereas the runners rely on insect pollination.

Have you got any flowers to attract the bees etc to your plot?

[JayG]

I grew Lady Di for a few years before moving on to White Lady - no better or worse than most for early flower drop, and a nice bean when they do arrive.

As Mum says they do need insects to pollinate them (nice fat bumbles are good as the flower has to be 'tripped' to open it by landing on the keel) - some flowers in the area are helpful to attract them, but preferably not too irresistible or too many or they might still ignore your runners! 

[Dave NE]

I have grown runners for years and until last year I had my own strain from saved seeds but decided to try a new variety this year. I have nasturtiums planted in the row of beans as sacrificial plants as I have brassicas nearby and there are plenty of flyers around so its very odd, the plants are at the 6 to 8 foot range and not a single pod set, will keep you posted, cheers Dave

[Dave NE]

You are spot on JayG, it only took a few minutes to see that the bees etc are more interested in the nasturtium flowers than the beans, lesson learnt, by trying to be clever and introduce a more luring feast for cabbage whites I have lost a good 4 ft of bean trusses on all my plants, scissors out tomorrow to reduce the nasturtium flowers, cheers Dave