runner beans

sladefungus · « **on:** June 19, 2007, 11:11 »

Hi ive tried searching forums for this but cant find anything. - a couple of my runner bean plants have a main climbing shoot but the lower side shoots are also turning into climbing shoots rather than flower shoots. should i pinch these off and leave just one climbing shoot?

richyrich7 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2007, 11:16 »

Personally I would leave alone I have only ever stopped beans once and had a poor year, so I generally just leave them to get on with it.

Aidy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2007, 11:17 »

nope just let them go, wehn the main shoot reaches the top of your poles nip it out and the others will race away.

intraclast · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2007, 14:36 »

I was just searching for this topic, so its nice to find an active post

So just how do you "nip out" or "pinch out" the main growing point? I've seen the term mentioned lots both on here an in books, but no instructions on how to do it. Is it just a case of taking the main growing tip between finger and thumb and giving it a good squeeze?

Oh... also, hello, first post, but have been ready for a month or so now. I'll go do this in the welcome forum

DD. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2007, 14:41 »

Quote from: "intraclast"

I was just searching for this topic, so its nice to find an active post So just how do you "nip out" or "pinch out" the main growing point? I've seen the term mentioned lots both on here an in books, but no instructions on how to do it. Is it just a case of taking the main growing tip between finger and thumb and giving it a good squeeze?

Oh... also, hello, first post, but have been ready for a month or so now. I'll go do this in the welcome forum

Hello & Welcome.

You have it right, 'pinching out' is generally what it means - forefinger & thumb - although if you could get a clean cut with a chainsaw without doing yourself & the plant any mischief, that would be acceptable!!!

intraclast · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2007, 08:46 »

Thanks for that, gave them all a good squeeze last night, seemed to work fine. I stopped short of the chainsaw though!

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