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Post by Barbara on Apr 22, 2010 12:07:27 GMT
I have just been given a plastic bag of runner bean seeds, I don't know which type or anything about them, so am I ok to plant them now in loo roll holders, and should I keep them in the mini growhouse,or outside,  and I assume they will need a wigwam, is that it.or is there anything else I need to know,. |
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Post by Spruance on Apr 22, 2010 14:17:49 GMT
Loo roll holders will do just fine Barbara. Fill the loo rolls with compost and then make a hole around one inch deep for the beans on a one roll/one bean basis. Runner beans are not frost hardy so it would be best to start them off in the growhouse or even in the house on the windowsill. Oh and yes you will need a wigwam or some such as they will easily make 6ft (2 mtrs) tall (and more if you let them) over the season. Plant them out once the danger of frost has passed and make sure that you keep them well watered. There is no absolute need to feed them but something like tomato feed won't do amiss.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 22, 2010 14:43:03 GMT
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Post by Barbara on Apr 22, 2010 15:20:11 GMT
Thanks Spru. I have started with 8 seeds.  Thanks RF, good reading. |
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Post by Barbara on May 4, 2010 6:41:10 GMT
I have beans.  |
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Post by Spruance on May 4, 2010 16:42:05 GMT
Well done Barbara.  I'm afraid that as of today I am not following my own advice as my uncle has given me around 15 plants that he sowed in February  (he always sets his too early  ) and despite keeping them in a cool place in the GH they were beginning to resemble Jack's Beanstalk so they have had to go outside, so it will be fingers crossed for the next day or so until they acclimatise. |
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Post by Dutchy on May 4, 2010 17:46:57 GMT
Oops fingers crossed for no frost.
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Post by Barbara on Jun 29, 2010 11:23:28 GMT
Right so up to now everything is great with the runner beans , lovely red flowers on them, but, they are taller than the 6ft wig-wam I built so, do I pinch them out, or leave them. anyone know please. ? |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 29, 2010 12:13:56 GMT
You will have to nip them off at some point Barbara and they get bushier.
However last year mine sort of shot up overnight (probably didn't have my spec's with me) and were about 2 feet over the wigwam so I tied a bit of string to them and pulled them down - they went up again and I then nipped them out - got an extra meal out of them as well....probably totally wrong but the extra beans tasted great!!!
RF
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Post by Jilly on Jun 29, 2010 12:18:21 GMT
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Post by Barbara on Jun 29, 2010 13:33:43 GMT
Well Jilly I'll nip out and nip mine off , but , I'll need a ladder, all that rain has done wonders for growing beans... |
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Post by Barbara on Jun 29, 2010 13:43:16 GMT
Thanks RF, bushier eh, well how many beans to a plant do you get, Sid the man who gave me the seeds said he had 50lbs we will be having beans with everything if thats so., the green house gasses could soar....
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 29, 2010 13:55:22 GMT
I get loads and loads of beans - infact I had to google for new recipes and my OH started groaning when I started making bean salad.... I do freeze them as well though and it is lovely around December when it is all cold and snowy to have some with a meal.
Oh yes and peg the duvet down at night!!!
RF
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Post by andy on Jun 29, 2010 15:19:33 GMT
Question for you bean experts. Mine are as above...loads of scarlet flowers (and loads of blackfly !!!) but my neighbour told me to spray the flowers every day...it helps to "set" them. Never heard of this before but he's a wise old sage and grows some nice veg. Is he talking sense ?
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Post by farmersboy on Jun 29, 2010 17:22:31 GMT
Trust him Andy,he knows what hes talking about,its well known
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Post by Barbara on Jun 29, 2010 18:33:50 GMT
Just with water.  Oh god this is getting complicated now, should have just bought a tin of ''em. ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Tig on Jun 29, 2010 20:21:26 GMT
Yes Barbara a fine mist of water is what the flowers on mine get, but at the moment they are getting misted all over with soapy water to try and manage the bruddy blackfly!!! Soapy runner beans .... I hope not  x Tig |
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Post by Barbara on Jun 30, 2010 6:46:28 GMT
The blackfly are all over my Nastursiums, so leaving the beans for now........fingers crossed. |
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Post by Jilly on Jul 3, 2010 10:21:31 GMT
Well I've pinched the tops out of mine now & I'm spraying them with water, trouble is the flowers are dropping with no beans setting. I hope the soapy water that I'm using to try and manage the blackfly isn't putting the bees off i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif . Tig do you just use washing up liquid, I just put a tiny drop in one of those hand misting thingys, is that enough? Jillyx |
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Post by farmersboy on Jul 3, 2010 17:44:23 GMT
Too dry is mostly why the flowers drop,Jilly,spraying with water helps,but i think they also need to be kept moist at the roots
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Post by Jilly on Jul 4, 2010 21:54:30 GMT
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Post by Spruance on Jul 4, 2010 22:14:20 GMT
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Post by Jilly on Jul 5, 2010 7:15:59 GMT
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Post by Tig on Jul 5, 2010 14:59:04 GMT
Sorry for not responding quicker Jilly, I have been using three squirts of antibacterial handwash liquid in my litre spray bottle - I reckon if it kills 99% of known germs then the blackfly should be sanitised! I'm just hoping that the beans aren't too soapy (although not many had set when I started and the blackfly have thinned out a fair bit now!)
x Tig
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Post by Jilly on Jul 5, 2010 15:39:45 GMT
Thats OK Tig, I won't dare spray with anything now the Ladybirds have arrived, I counted about 5 on one lot of beans before I left for work this morning.
Jillyx
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Post by Barbara on Jul 6, 2010 6:55:32 GMT
A veritable army of 'em Jilly.
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 6, 2010 19:20:09 GMT
;D
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Post by Jilly on Jul 16, 2010 18:57:03 GMT
All the rain we've been having has brought the beans on really well, it doesn't seem to matter how much you water & spray they only seem to respond to rain i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif . I've just picked my first 'crop', now if someone could just give me a recipe for 2 runner beans  , there are a lot more coming though. Jillyx |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jul 17, 2010 5:45:39 GMT
Try Ratatouille Jilly - I have got my first crop as well - 5 runners, 2 small aubergines, I courgette, 2 onions, 2 peppers and a tin of toms...the tin was picked carefully from the plant!!!
RF
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Post by Spruance on Oct 3, 2011 22:36:52 GMT
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and I assume they will need a wigwam, 
(he always sets his too early 
) and despite keeping them in a cool place in the GH they were beginning to resemble Jack's Beanstalk so they have had to go outside, so it will be fingers crossed for the next day or so until they acclimatise. 
