Green Bean woes

Tim_D · July 2019

Hi - first time poster. Very amateur, but enthusiastic veg gardener, but my beans just don’t work!

My green/french beans are sowed under glass, and planted out when they get to about 12 inches high.
They initially take, and have no problems of them being eaten or attacked by insects, but the plants just don’t grow with any vigour. They don’t die, & look fairly healthy, but just don’t grow with any enthusiasm. After an entire season, they may get to 5 feet in height, and produce 20+ (If I’m' lucky) beans per plant.
I also have similar problems with peas.

The site gets direct sun from about 11am > 5pm during the summer months.

In contrast, root veg, kale, leeks and strawberries grow fantastically.

I'm assuming it is soil type / condition that is causing my bean problems.
Does anyone have advice on how / what I need to check, and the best way to provide what ever it is beans need.

Any help would be much appreciated

Tim

Joy* · July 2019

Beans are hungry and thirsty. They like a long root run - do you use root trainers when you plant the seeds? If you are getting flowers but no beans it might be lack of water preventing setting. You could spray the leaves etc with water to facilitate setting. My mum's trick to get the bees around the flowers was to spray with water with a spoonful of sugar dissolved in it.

Tim_D · July 2019

Hi Joy

I get flowers, and what flowers I do get tend to get pollinated and produce fruit.

No - I've not used root trainers. At a previous house, my beans were great, so never thought to change what I was doing. Hence looking at the one factor that has changed - the local soil conditions.

I dont suspect watering is a problem, but as far at nutrients, acidity etc goes, this is where my amature gardner status shows me up!

Green Bean woes

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