My garden- what I've learnt this year and a question.

Teenybop

This year I've grown several varieties of beans. The runners, like several people on this forum have mentioned, have failed to set. Healthy big plants and loads of flowers, although they were late. The yellow french beans have been a disappointment but the round french beans have been fab, in fact I don't know why we've bothered with the runners!

With the runner beans is it the lack of rain or over manuring in April?

One of the few things that survived the snow last winter was fennel. It is now about five foot tall (and in the wrong place). It is however, full of ladybirds. I haven't seen so many since I was a child. Consequently, my beanless runner beans have not a sign of blackfly. These ladybirds are nice and fat though.

ErisBadb

Lack of pollination perhaps???

Ladybirds!:D

zarazara

My runner beans,french beans ,beetroot and leeks are terrible. I think its been too hot and dry for them,especially in June.
Ladybirds,how lovely.

emiff6

I had the same problem and Googled it. Apparently runner beans are native to the mountain slopes of Central America, and need a nighttime temperature of less than 16 degrees before they start to produce pollen. Here in the Midlands the temp has been over 18 degrees at night all through most of July, so, no pollen, no beans. That said, we had our first few beans this weekend - delicious.
BTW, French beans are self-fertile I think, so don't need bees.