Runner bean help!

wallbash

Grown runner beans for years , its time for a change.

dexyblue

Bit early for beans unless its broad beans:EasterBun

Farway

wallbash wrote: »

Ps I might dump the runner beans this year for climbing french beans.

I grow both, but climbing French bean Cobra is a delight and just does well always

ALIBOBSY

I have some boradies in, but the frenchies and the runners will wait yet.
I like to grow a mixture of different beans.

Does the OP have some cover for them outside, ie a GH or cold frame or even cloches.

Might get away with planting out if you are vigilant with cover whenever a possible frost is predicted.

I nursed some french beans through with fleece from April last year, but it was pretty mild overall and we didn't get any really hard frosts.

I would try them and if the worst happens you have plenty of time to sow again anyway.

ali x

matt987106

i had a full tray of runners this time last year, must have been 30 plants

they got too big and i had to put them in the ground, the wind and cold got to them and they suffered

still a bit early to put them out full time imho

wallbash

Could some explain to me why people are even thinking of runner beans yet.
Last few years ( because of the weather ... wet) had a bumper crop. Filled the freezer, had them til I was fed up .

Forced them on to the neighbours and I did not even sow them outside til Late April.

Why this ambition to start growing so early.??

macma

it really is too early for runner beans if you got plenty of seed then the good news is bean plants make good compost:T
The advice on seed packets is just that, and the calendar is not as reliable as the weather ,many plants won't die in the cold weather but they won't grow very much either,deep breath take your time .We've been growing veg for 30 years and we still get it wrong the pleasure comes when you get it right

Primrose

It's far too early to plant them out at the moment. They'd normally be planted out in late May/early June as they hate the cold & just wither & die. Unless you can find a way or anchoring the tall sticks they need up which to grow, I don't think grow bags will be suitable for them. If you haven't got space for a wide wigwam structure, just put in a few upright canes in a sunny part of the garden, preferably in some manured soil. You don't necessarily even have to plant a row of canes. I once saw a garden where single canes were dotted in and amongst other plants and this worked perfectly well. Obviously if the plants are closer together it makes it easier for the bees to find the flowers and pollinate them.
For those who want to grow climbing beans, do try some Climbing French beans rather than Runners. They have a big advantage in that they are self fertile (as opposed to runner beans) and the flowers will set to beans even when it's cool and there are no bees about to pollinate the flowers. If you want to try something different try Thompson & Morgan "Blauhilde" variety. They have a pretty purple pod which goes green when you cook them.