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My runners are a real flop this year. How did you do?

ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
in Fruit & veg
Despite watering regularly and plants over 8ft tall, my scarlet emperor crop is a compete flop. A couple of mouthfuls for 2 people. Lots of  flowers, but htey all drop off. Hardly any new flowers now

Am I alone?

Z
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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We're growing Butler again ... only started picking a few days ago but they're doing well so far ... I've been keeping them really well watered through the hot dry spell.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Poor start during the dry period but kicking in nicely now. We won't have much surplus but they'll keep us fed. The last 2 years have gone badly for us so we're actually doing better than normal this year despitre the problems.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Dovefromabove said:
    We're growing Butler again ... only started picking a few days ago but they're doing well so far ... I've been keeping them really well watered through the hot dry spell.
    Are the Butler "stringless" as I have heard claimed. Never found a real stringless runner bean yet...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2018
    Not absolutely totally, but they certainly don't have that wide stringy membrane down the edge like a lot of other varieties do. We really like them ... very good flavour which for us is the most important thing ... I don't mind stringing the edges when prepping beans if the flavour is worth it. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 30
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    I think I shall grow another variety next year, I grew St George, they cropped well but larger beans were stringy. Scarlet Emporer had a good taste so I stuck with them for a couple of years - but this year a disaster. 
    I am thinking Wisley Magic - but these need to be picked young and are stringy. Maybe I should go for the Butler? 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I used to grow Wisley Magic ... I rate them highly ... but when I couldn't get them one year I grew Butler ... even better and a bigger crop.

    But all runner beans need picking young ... I pick at least every other day at when the crops in full swing. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/PDFs/Plant-trials-and-awards/Plant-bulletins/runnerbeans.pdf

    A little old news, but Lady Di is apparently truly stringless
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Interesting views
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    edited August 2018
    A friend of mine picked her second pod today!!
    She normally ends up giving me bags full of the things.
    Maybe things will improve over the next few weeks?
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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