When I'm watering my climbing beans I also mist the flowers, think I read somewhere that this helps them to set. Might have dreamt it, but I've loads of beans on. But it won't stop bumblers breaking them.
Tell me if it's wrong, and I'll stop giving them a wash
This is an extract from the government's WW2 'Dig for Victory' campaign:
"Runner beans - syringe the plants, and particularly the flowers, with water during hot weather to encourage the beans to form. And pinch out the growing tips of the main shoots when the plants have reached the tops of the sticks."
Here in Cheshire we have had a fantastic crop of Runner Beans variety "Butler" which has a red flower. We have grown them as last year, 8 plants grown from seed in an 18 inch terracotta pot - so much for the experts telling us to "double dig a trench and fill with rotted manure).
Fed with Tomato fertiliser weekly the pods have been 1 foot long and well filled with beans. They are now slowing down in growth but they really have been excellent.
amuseingly I have grown Butler and White Lady successfully in the past, but this year I just bought some from my local DIY store but cant remember the variety, but I do recall that I hadn't grown it before
Hi some reasons why flowers dont set,soil not kept moist,,try to mulch the soil in early midsummer,,early morning/evening misting helps to keep the humidity around the flowers and help to set,,alkaline,chalky soils is best for beans,if you have neutral or acidic soil it pays to water the crop once with hydrated lime,,also to pinch out the growing tips of the plants when they are 6 to 8 inches high,resulting side shoots usually set better,, ( RHC allotment hand book ) just got it from charity shop ??16:99
got it as a pressy for ten bob (50 pence for the youngsters if there are any on ea)
no charge for all this info folks Alan4711 b lucky
This year is the first time I have had no runner beans despite the plants looking really healthy. My neighbor who is a long time veg gardener tells me the reason is the birds that I feed have been feeding on the flowers I wonder if this is true as this year there seems to have been a record number of sparrows in my garden.
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Deep envy
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ah! But nothing is as it seems, Dove.....that's from three 20ft double rows. Although, I do pick about the same two or three times a week.
OK - I won't feel quite so bad about mine then David
Think there'll be enough on ours for a meal this evening for the two of us .... fingers crossed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
When I'm watering my climbing beans I also mist the flowers, think I read somewhere that this helps them to set. Might have dreamt it, but I've loads of beans on. But it won't stop bumblers breaking them.
Tell me if it's wrong, and I'll stop giving them a wash
No, that's a very good thing to be doing, Kef.
This is an extract from the government's WW2 'Dig for Victory' campaign:
"Runner beans - syringe the plants, and particularly the flowers, with water during hot weather to encourage the beans to form. And pinch out the growing tips of the main shoots when the plants have reached the tops of the sticks."
Here in Cheshire we have had a fantastic crop of Runner Beans variety "Butler" which has a red flower. We have grown them as last year, 8 plants grown from seed in an 18 inch terracotta pot - so much for the experts telling us to "double dig a trench and fill with rotted manure).
Fed with Tomato fertiliser weekly the pods have been 1 foot long and well filled with beans. They are now slowing down in growth but they really have been excellent.
amuseingly I have grown Butler and White Lady successfully in the past, but this year I just bought some from my local DIY store but cant remember the variety, but I do recall that I hadn't grown it before
got it as a pressy for ten bob (50 pence for the youngsters if there are any on ea)
no charge for all this info folks Alan4711 b lucky
This year is the first time I have had no runner beans despite the plants looking really healthy. My neighbor who is a long time veg gardener tells me the reason is the birds that I feed have been feeding on the flowers I wonder if this is true as this year there seems to have been a record number of sparrows in my garden.