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Runner beans too many leaves?
Jaybee45
Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
Hi,
I am growing runner beans for the first time and There seems to be lots of huge leaves on them along with the flowers. I have removed some of the big leaves and wonder if I did the right thing. They are growing in large tubs in a sheltered alley at the side of the house. I am also worried about pollenation as there doesn't seem to be many insects around them.
I also have two tomato plants in a tub one cherry and one standard. These too seem to have a lot of leaves although there are some flowers coming on them. I have been pinching out the growth between the branches. I've included some photos and would appreciate any advice. Thanks
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Crikey! We're becoming a nation of worriers.
I see nothing but a perfectly healthy row of runner beans, please don't defoliate them.
Tomatoes, in the absence of any pic, I would say don't defoliate those either.
Also , if you feel your toms are very leafy , you may simply need to feed - tomato feed contains potassium which the plants need to help produce fruit ( a high nitrogen feed / soil could make them over leafy ) Other than that plants in pic do honestly look nice and healthy
Thanks for reassurance David.
Hubby said to leave them alone but oops! I did cut off some of the leaves which were about 10" wide. There's still plenty on them though so I hope They'll be ok.
I also took some side leaves off the tomatoes too but they are still bushy.
Sorry but I am a bit of a novice and only ever grown flowers before. Hence the worry.
Here is a photo of the tomatoes.
Thanks folks for the advice. Much appreciated. Looking forward to our first meal from the beans.
My father always grew beautiful runner beans and they were about 15" long and very straight and super tender. He's not here now bless him but he always strived to pick his first beans by his birthday each year which was on 4th July. He also had greenhouses full of tomatoes and cucumbers which he always gave to the family. I wish I was as greenfingered as him, but I am trying.
Some varieties of runner beans are leafier than others, big leaves are quite normal.
Jaybee, thanks for the tomato pic...once again, all I see is very healthy plants.
lindsaywanda is right, feed weekly with a high potash feed such as Tomorite, but only after the bottom truss of flowers are bearing fruit.
Good luck.
Yes, these childhood memories become very strong in later life, as so they should.
When my daughter was a toddler she was always near me when I was tending my roses, as she was during our visits to the shows where I exhibited them. I thought little of it at the time, but she must have been taking it all on board, as she is now has a passion for them and is a accomplished rose grower herself.
My beans have a lot of leaves this year and also has some flowers .I water them well and they are alongside a fence so a little shaded . I appreciate some types are leafy but will it harm them to thin them out a bit or should they be left alone .
For heavens sake leave the plants alone. If they have leaves it is because they need them.
There is no need to remove leaves from runners or tomatoes, only remove the side shoots from the toms if growing cordons