Poor runner beans this year

[n***@mode.invalid]

Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.

Very disappointed.

Here's what I've been doing, for any experts out there :

I am using saved seed, 90% of which are Streamline. Well worked
ground with my own compost. I started the plants indoors. Sowed
in a cold greenhouse around the first or second week of April and
thereafter. I've rotated the main trench this year, but planted
a few in last year's trench (the blossom set problem exists in
both trenches). I've watered as well as I ever have, misted to
encourage pollination... I've even resorted to spraying with
some sugary liquid to encourage insects to come and pollinate.

I've planted more densely than most people would do,
however, I work the soil deeper than most and haven't seen
a problem in previous years.

Could the very hot and dry weather for the past two or three weeks
be the main cause of my runner beans not setting ?

Look forward to hearing your views.

[Nick Maclaren]

Post by n***@mode.invalid
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.

It is the dry weather. It is raining here in Cambridge, on the
day that I am experimenting with an umu! Anyway, it will help
with the beans.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[Bob Hobden]

Post by Nick Maclaren
It is the dry weather. It is raining here in Cambridge, on the
day that I am experimenting with an umu! Anyway, it will help
with the beans.

An underground oven? Sounds fascinating, do let us know the outcome.

[Alan Holmes]

Post by n***@mode.invalid
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.
Very disappointed.

Mine are not very good either, I assumed it was because I'd got them in
a bit late, but some flowers are beginning to set, I must consult the
neighbours about their beans!

[Sally Thompson]

Post by n***@mode.invalid
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.
Very disappointed.
I am using saved seed, 90% of which are Streamline. Well worked
ground with my own compost. I started the plants indoors. Sowed
in a cold greenhouse around the first or second week of April and
thereafter. I've rotated the main trench this year, but planted
a few in last year's trench (the blossom set problem exists in
both trenches). I've watered as well as I ever have, misted to
encourage pollination... I've even resorted to spraying with
some sugary liquid to encourage insects to come and pollinate.
I've planted more densely than most people would do,
however, I work the soil deeper than most and haven't seen
a problem in previous years.
Could the very hot and dry weather for the past two or three weeks
be the main cause of my runner beans not setting ?

Our runner beans are actually doing amazingly well. I sowed my own
saved seed (Webbs Droitwich Champion) very early this year (23rd
March) in a cold greenhouse, planted them out rather too late (26th
May and they were climbing my legs in desperation as I approached),
and we started picking a week ago - well ahead of most other gardeners
around here. Can't explain our success except that they are in a new
raised vegetable bed with lots of horse muck at the bottom. I have
also been watering them every day, misting occasionally etc. I think
they must know I love them!

[Geoff]

Post by n***@mode.invalid
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.

Although on the I.W. we've had dry weather my beans are fantastic.

The secret?

A few years ago I bought a length of leaky pipe for my front garden bedding
plants and they did well so this year I used the pipe around the wigwam of
canes in the small raised bed to support the bean plants. When the dry
weather really started I connected the pipe to a water butt. Although the
pressure is of course very low, the pipe leaks enough to keep the soil
moist.

In the course of a week the water level in the butt drops by about 4 inches.
I've refilled the butt three times from a second butt using a pressure pump
and was going to fill it again the other day but it rained.

My wife told me it's the best year ever for our beans.

By the way, a nearby neighbour was going to plant some beans where she had
grown them last year but saw those plants growing again - her husband had
not dug up the old plants - so she left them and she too has had a super
crop. Runner beans are perennials so why not leave them in? If there's no
hard frost they'll come up again.

Geoff

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by Geoff

Post by n***@mode.invalid
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly
falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two
out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants.

Although on the I.W. we've had dry weather my beans are fantastic.

In Scotland, ours were at least 3 weeks later than normal but now
cropping heavily (two varieties) and so are french beans.

Janet (Isle of Arran)

[andrewpreece]

Post by Geoff
My wife told me it's the best year ever for our beans.
By the way, a nearby neighbour was going to plant some beans where she had
grown them last year but saw those plants growing again - her husband had
not dug up the old plants - so she left them and she too has had a super
crop. Runner beans are perennials so why not leave them in? If there's no
hard frost they'll come up again.

I dug mine up, and stored them in dry earth in the greenhouse over the
winter.
They have done very well this year. Previously I left them in the ground but
they rotted.
A word of caution, even in the greenhouse they were very slow to get
started, even
after I potted them up and coddled them. Runners grown from beans beat them
into growth.
My uncle also tried planting his old runner bean roots out, but they failed
to activate.
All in all not a guaranteed method. I think my technique of overwintering
them in dry
eart in a greenhouse, then potting them up and bringing them on still in the
greenhouse
is probably the most failsafe method.

Andy.