Runner Bean Varieties

[blight]

Where I am gardening -south of Germany- nobody grows runnerbeans. It´s all French beans. I tried runner beans for the first time this year but  they failed miserably: they grew perfectly, flowered like mad but did not fruit. almost no crop.
As I think the flavour of runner beans is vastly superior to that of the French beans, I would like to have another go next year. So I´m looking for a variety which is suited to warm summers. Do people in - let´s say Devon and Cornwall - grow runner beans successfully? If that´s the case, then it should work here as well.
Any suggestions, which varieties I could try?
Thank you

[blight]

[Mubgrub]

Others will know more but I've read that white flowered varieties don't have as much trouble setting in hot weather.  Alternatively, perhaps you could start them under cloches earlier in the year so they flower while its a bit cooler? ;D

[Merry Tiller]

Runner beans come from the tropics so heat isn't the problem. When they start to flower try misting them with water each evening, it works for me

[flowerlady]

What is the insect population like?  Any bumble bees?  :)

Try planting a few borrage plants, lavender and the like to attract a few more friendlies!  ;)

[PREMTAL]

Hi Blight,
              I think Flowerlady has sussed your problem, I would also add marigolds to her plant list.

This season I grew Enorma Elite because for me it did not require any special attention and is still producing quite vigorously.

Others will have their own favourites but for me it is a no nonsense stringless organic long season variety.

I hope this is of some help to you. :)


                                                           PREMTAL

                                                       

[blight]

thanks flowerlady and premtal,
my garden is brimming with bees and bumble bees. They seem to avoid the runners though and go for the -yes borage- instead.
do runner beans need a lot of water? more than french beans do?

[sandersj89]

The problem with runner beans is the flowers are a bit of an awkward shape for the bees to get in and pollinate them. The bees often try and get to the nectar by biting through the back of the flower and the resulk is no pollination.

The problem is normally not a huge issue but watering the folliage in the evening helps.

And yes runners like lots of water, the more the better as it stops them getting too woody. I always grow my beans over a treneh filled with manure. Not only does this feed them but it acts as a water resevoir.


Desiree seems to be a good variety. I also like painted lady and enorma.

Jerry

[timmyc]

Hmm yes runner beans not producing fruit  that old chesnut  - the best way to make sure they pollinate and produce lots of great flowers is.

1. Shake the canes they are attached to (this dislodges pollen from the anthers and enables them to pollinate the stigmas.
2 Water the plant from above the canes to water the foliage
3. 2 or three times a week water the ground really well if your are not gettting much rain - you can't really over water them once they are at a decent height. Some books suggest as much a 8 litres per square meter.

[cleo]

All good stuff, but I wonder why? runner beans are not popular in many countries-never seen them in Germany,France or Italy.

[blight]

@timmyc
the shaking bit  sounds promising.
watering from above might be a bit more difficult. mine are trained on bean-poles (3,5 mtr high) and the plants have long reached the top and are growing downwards now. and there is no tap in the garden where I could run a hose from.
are there other ways to train runners?

@cleo
it can´t really have anything to do with the climate, as this is fairly different between these countries. too strongly flavoured for our delicate stomachs, maybe?

[timmyc]

you also should try not to let them grow too high - 2 meters tops - then nip out the growing tips - otherwise they put all their energy into growing new growth and not fruit - if they've gone up that far and are coming down again that could be your reason!

[PREMTAL]

Hi blight,
              I posted a question on the subject of runner beans which I think may give you most of the information you are looking for. ;D

Go to Basics/ page 20/ runner beans / June 27th.

I hope this will answer most of what you want to know about cultivation. ;)


                                                     PREMTAL

[blight]

thanks PREMTAL,
I´ll try that method.