More Runner Bean Questions

Snap Dragon · « **on:** May 08, 2008, 00:40 »

OK... Now that I have an idea of how many beans to plant..... how do I look after them? Especially in this warm weather!

Do I pop them into Richys pots and leave them in my little 2 tier plastic greenhouse in the garden?

I'm thinking they'll be too hot in the conservatory?

How soon can they go in the ground?

I promise I won't ask any more bean questions! :oops:

gobs · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2008, 07:50 »

Considering they are a sub-tropical plant, it's not that easy to have them too hot.

When risk of frosts is gone. You can always put some fleece around though, strong winds tend to devastate them.

John · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2008, 09:40 »

With runner beans you don't need to rush - sowing mid-May to June in Yorkshire is fine. I've lost crops with end of May frost in Cheshire and the second sown crop has done fine.

If you have planted and frost is threatened, use fleece or even newspaper over night to ensure they aren't killed off.

Apart from that, runner beans need a lot of water - keep them well watered in dry spells and don't just spray the top. Soak the ground well every 3 days is much better than a top spray daily. Stick your finger in the ground to check what water is under the surface.

They'll also benefit from some general fertiliser; fish, blood & bone is ideal at around 4oz sq yard. Because legumes fix nitrogen, people think they don't need any extra but the truth is a bit of additional nitrogen will help no end, maybe pelleted chicken manure. I prefer this to chemical nitrogen because it is slower to release and nitrogen is washed out easily.

If you get swamped with runners (easy to happen) then allow some to develop the bean inside. Not only a seed for next year but they're nice and meaty beans in stews etc.

When your runners hit the top of the poles, pinch out the growing tip and this will encourage bushing out below and yet more beans.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2008, 09:46 »

Quote from: "john"

If you get swamped with runners (easy to happen) then allow some to develop the bean inside. Not only a seed for next year but they're nice and meaty beans in stews etc.

BUT allowing beans to develope will stop the plant from flowering and producing more pods. SO, select some plants at the end of the row to produce mature beans and make sure you pick ALL be pods off the rest as they get to eating size !

John · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2008, 10:11 »

Guess who gets to edit the next book

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2008, 10:33 »

:oops:

crackedflowerpots · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2008, 20:25 »

planted our runners out today

like the tip about pinching out the tip ... gonna try it thanks

and IF IT DONT WORK!!! :twisted: can we get a refund on your book please?

John · « **Reply #7 on:** May 08, 2008, 20:48 »

Quote from: "crackedflowerpots"

planted our runners out today like the tip about pinching out the tip ... gonna try it thanks and IF IT DONT WORK!!! :twisted: can we get a refund on your book please?

I've passed this query on to our complaints dept

crackedflowerpots · « **Reply #8 on:** May 08, 2008, 20:56 »

of course it will work :? what was i thinking? :roll:

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