Any runner bean growers will appreciate how quickly they do grow.

I have mine in a raised bed (20 plants) - and in spring I installed a soaker
hose three inches below the rows where the runner beans were to be planted. The
water would be directly on the roots.

The system only comes on for half an hour each day - so much so that the water
runs through the raised bed in to a soakaway. The system works perfectly (in
spite of the doubting Thomases when I was setting it up).

The Runner Beans are an amazing wall of growth about 7 or 8 foot high - and the
beans have been fantastic.

I decided to measure how quickly they were growing. I selected three beans on
different plants and tied some wool around the stem on which each of the beans
was growing. I then measured them each day (bending a length of wire to the
bean profile - and then measuring the length).

I was gobsmacked to find that on average they grew between 2.0 and 2.5 cms
every twenty four hours.

The moral of the story - use soaker hoses on a timer (and don't forget to
"over-water" and have a soakaway ;-)

Similarly the courgettes are fantastic - better than usual - and no sign of
powdery mildew which I understand can be caused by "water-stress".

They are all obviously very happy with the watering system and regime -
as am I.

Judith in England wrote:

Any runner bean growers will appreciate how quickly they do grow.

Yes! Not to mention how quickly the beans (pods) grow following rain.

[...]

The system only comes on for half an hour each day - so much so that the
water runs through the raised bed in to a soakaway. The system works
perfectly (in spite of the doubting Thomases when I was setting it up).

Were the Thomases here? I wonder on what basis anyone would think it
wouldn't work.

I was gobsmacked to find that on average they grew between 2.0 and 2.5 cms
every twenty four hours.

Yes, this doesn't surprise me at all. The do grow amazingly fast once
they get away, especially in spring.

The moral of the story - use soaker hoses on a timer (and don't forget to
"over-water" and have a soakaway ;-)

This is the only part I don't really understand - the need for a
soakaway (unless you are on otherwise incredibly boggy ground even in
the summer) and the need to over-water. If you think you're
over-watering and it is draining away from the beans, why not simply
reduce the time to 20 mins or every other day or something?

I make do hand watering with rainwater and plenty of organic matter and
mulch. Much more on-going effort, but also works.

Peter