My runner beans are probably the best I've grown, look healthy and are vigorous, the problem is that the flowers aren't setting so I'll try your tip in the evenings Allotment Boy, thank you.
Yes but if the flowers and pollen are too dry, and the temperature too high, the pollen doesn't germinate and move down to fertilise the ovary so no beans set.
Bees have learned that they can access the nectar in runner bean flowers by biting through the base of the flower. So you may have lots of bee action but no pollinating going on.
Try one of the self fertilising type, Red Rum our Firestorm. not that I bought either this year, trying something different and can’t remember the name, plenty of tiny beans, about 2” long, they’ll grow.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
We’ve grown Moonlight (self fertile) for several years now. Because they have done French bean genes they’re slightly hardier and I plant them out just a little bit before I would ordinary runners. They crop really well and this year our freezer is already full from a double row of about 22 plants total, and we’ve been eating a meal of them most days. Even this year we’ve got better crops than all our neighbours.
I usually cut the plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil.
This year last years have regrown (amongst my salads and beets) … OH has tried to train them up canes but they’ve gone a bit sprawly … however we’re picking beans from them … enough for the two of us for supper today 🙂
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
not that I bought either this year, trying something different and can’t remember the name, plenty of tiny beans, about 2” long, they’ll grow.
Even this year we’ve got better crops than all our neighbours.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.