[chrisnchris]

Hi all,
I'm having a problem with my runner beans, this happens every year, but I'm a bit new round here so havent posted about this before.
I've had a quick search but can't find anything so I hope someone can help.

The flower heads develop well, nice clusters of red & white.....& then they're gone, I'm left with bare stalks 15-20mm long......the flowers are on the ground.

I've spoken to a fair few people about this with various replies......bees, lack of water, rain, lack of food, lack of pollenation, birds.

I will try & post a picture.........that's proving a little difficult ..........464 KB.......how the hell do I reduce it to 128 KB
It's in Picasa if that's any help

[JayG]

A bit of detective work needed, and it still ain't easy!

If the fallen flowers are fully open, and even a little tired looking it is probably lack of pollination, which isn't helped if the plants are not kept well watered.

I have however had problems with sparrows pecking off the flowers, some of which fall to the ground before fully opening (they don't even eat them the little blighters!) I have stretched black netting above my Munty frame to deter them, which seems to be working so far.

As for Picasa, which I use, use the "export" button to make a copy in a new folder (you can specify the new size in the dialogue box - 500 pixels usually works for me but it does depend on the file size of your original. Image size can be set to "automatic.")

[chrisnchris]

Hoping I might have cracked the picture problem, if nothing else !!!!!
I used a part in the "basic fixes" called "picnik" & this resizes....excellent thanks

[Nikkithefoot]

You appear to have one small bean growing, so I would say lack of pollination for the other flowers, a bit like tomatoes on another thread.

[JayG]

Don't know what others think but it's rare that I get every flower setting on every flower stalk (and if they do the weight of the beans sometimes snaps the stalk before they are ready especially if it's windy!)

As you say, it happens every year and usually improves with time (at least you've got one!)  

(Chrisnchris: Will have a look at the picnik facility; been using Picasa so long now I've stopped really looking at it!)  

[tosca100]

The first flowers usually fall off mine, and if we have a nasty spell of weather it sometimes happens. Hopefully they will be fine once they get going....mine are going mad now...yum.

[PeterP]

I haven't the foggiest idea if this works.
But someone suggested to me to spray the flowers when they open to set them.
Which I believe you can with tomatoes.
I suppose anything is worth trying.

[viettaclark]

Your plants look very leafy. Have you tried a potassium based feed?
Is it just the first flowers that are dropping? That's normal. As someone else said, they usually set a bit later.

[lacewing]

To help deaw in polenating insects. I always grow a mixed row of beans, different varities.
A row of sweet peas planted near by will also help.

[Growster...]

Pollinating takes a bit of time, as noted a few weeks ago here.

It seems the bees have to learn the way to get into the flowers, and until they do, you'll get several like your picture.

We did, and now, after a few days, the whole lot are setting like a green blanket, and just won't srop growing, so be  a little patient, and you'll be in bean heaven before the week's out!

[Salmo]

It is a usual phenemenon that the first trusses of beans do not set. Even when they do start to set there are often only 3/4 beans out of a truss of 10 flowers.

At present it seems that every flowers on my beans is setting and producing beautiful beans. Combination of plenty of rain and warm days at a guess. Hot dry weather is the worst for setting.

[chrisnchris]

Thanks, that's all very encouraging, at least I'm not the only one!

Am I right in thinking that tomato feed is potasium based? I have some miracle grow tomato feed I'll check it later.

I did plant 30 or so gladioli a few feet away in the hope that they might attract the bees.

Anyway, thanks for your replies

[Yorkie]

Tomato feed is indeed potash based 

[Totty]

In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, planting a few insect attracting flowers next your beans will help, planting them so that they flower whilst your beans are still climbing the sticks will mean they are accustomed to buzzing around that area before the bean flowers are even out.
 When my beans are nearing the top, and looking like they are about to start flowering, i use a mister on the plants, every few days, all over from top to bottom with a weak seaweed extract dilution, im sure this helps the first flowers to set as i dont have too many problems with the low ones setting, just have a problem stopping the slugs eating the beans that touch the ground! The seaweed extract also has the advantage of giving a foliar feed which they like!

Totty

[DD.]

As far as my failing memory serves me, this has been an age old problem for the last half century and a bit, going back to my grandfather growing them.

I cannot remember a time when it boiled down to using just one thing which always lead to a surplus of beans come autumn (and a load of salt in my grandfather's day).

Patience.