Beans growing too tall!!!

ginvzt

So, I planted my runner beans couple of weeks ago, and they are shooting up nicely (most of them).

It is still too cold to plant them outside, so they are sitting on my windowsill in toilet rolls. However, they are growing really high - I have one well over 2 feet now, and few others are catching up quickly.

What can I do to 'slow' them growing? They trying to tie up together, tie up on the window handles, anything. If the weather improves, I hope to be able to plant them outside next weekend, but until then - I need to keep them indoors...

I suppose it would not be good to pinch them off? I broke off the top of the bean last year accidentally, and it didn't grew anymore. Just stayed at that height.

Ilovecubbage

I am not an expert, but I think you want them to be tall otherwise they will not produce so much. Last year I made a kind of frame from old wood and eventually they did go across the top piece. This unfortunately wasn`t very tall and stoped giving my my lovely beans, I am sure I could have more.
So I don`t think you should pinch anything.

wallbash

Or you could just throw them away , sow seeds straight into the ground , if the weather warms up next week .

We have just turned central heating back on ... we are wimps!

ginvzt

No, I wouldn't like to throw them away!!! They look so nice...

LJM

mine are quite tall and in the green house at the mo i think its only a couple of weeks till they can be planted out anyway i think

Farway

Depends where you live, mine have been outside for about a fortnight [Southern Hampshire], but I have used fleece to protect from cold North winds, luckily no frosts here

Smoffi

I planted 6 beans out 2-3 weeks ago and they are still 4-5 inches high. which was the height when I planted them into the ground..
I then planted 12 more into pots in the greenhouse, 2 weeks ago (from SEED) and they are taller than the ones outside!!

Not sure how to read into this but it is all part of the learning..

Kay_Peel

Pinch out the shoots. Since yours as so tall I would pinch out between 6 and 12 inches, just above two leaves.

You want your Runner Bean to be more like a rugby player than a high jumper. You'll get strong shoots (that will also grow upwards and tall) and better crops from a stout little fellow. It will take about a week to recover from pinching, but you'll get to see some activity after then.

morg_monster

I planted mine too early, 4 in total. 3 germinated straightaway and shot up to about 4ft+; another was a little behind. I got fed up of them getting in the way in the house so I chucked 2, planted one of the huge ones and the smaller one outside the week before last (we are in the south). Of course this did stop them in their tracks but they haven't died yet - it was a bit of a gamble so I've planted more just in case. They have been outside in a plastic greenhouse virtually since germination but are still getting huge already and a bit leggy! I don't understand it, my mum's beans are growing so much more slowly.

ginvzt

I am in North West (Preston-Chorley area) and it is quite cold here. I think there is more frost promised for next week, so I am not going to take them outside.

I will try pinching them out, and see how it goes. Thanks all!

stilernin

Can you put a couple in large pots with canes? When you finally put them out they will have larger rootballs and you can tie the cane to the permenant cane.

The ones you pinch out should be fine too.