Quote:
Originally Posted by Davy[_2_]
My crop of mangetout is well down on last year and my runner beans are
not setting at all.
Earlier in the year we had more honey bees than for years; but none now.
Instead we have lots of bumble bees, as many as a dozen on a single
flowering plant - but none on the runner beans. The RHS state that
bumble bees cannot polinate runner beans. The runner flowers are
completely devoid of insects. I have allowed red and white clover to
flower in my lawn and they have a fair number of bumble bees too.
What are others experience this year - are your peas and beans covered
in bees?
DAvy
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The trouble with bumblebees on runners is that they pierce through the stem end of the flower and do not pick up the pollen. I think you may need to be patient - I have two friends picking runners already.