Regarding runner bean Desiree, I forgot to say that it is also
stringless which suits my laszy nature!


Pam in Bristol

"Nick Maclaren" wrote:

I grew Painted Lady once and, while it was pretty, the beans were
stringy and ill-flavoured. I tend to grow Polestar.
---
I too am growing Polestar this year. Last year I tried Scarlet Runner and
had a very impressive germination from the beans, so much so that I was able
to give my friend enough plants for his needs. He put his plants in ordinary
garden soil with nothing added and no TLC and finished up with enough beans
to eat and freeze. I on the other hand, gave my runners all the TLC they
could possibly need, and ended up with half as many from the same number of
plants. However, I was still picking pods long after his had stopped
producing.

Mike Crossland

"Nick Maclaren" wrote:

I grew Painted Lady once and, while it was pretty, the beans were
stringy and ill-flavoured. I tend to grow Polestar.
---
I too am growing Polestar this year. Last year I tried Scarlet Runner and
had a very impressive germination from the beans, so much so that I was able
to give my friend enough plants for his needs. He put his plants in ordinary
garden soil with nothing added and no TLC and finished up with enough beans
to eat and freeze. I on the other hand, gave my runners all the TLC they
could possibly need, and ended up with half as many from the same number of
plants. However, I was still picking pods long after his had stopped
producing.

Mike Crossland

In article ,
(Janet Bennett) wrote:

parents' garden, but I know that they will be unable to attend to
them.

At peak cropping season, very frequent harvesting is essential

Is there a variety that can cope with drought, good cropper, and one
that you don't have to spray to set the flowers?

Hassayon says that white flowered varieties don't have problems setting
pods. All books seem to be definite about lots of water being essential.

I think you should consider something else

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

In article ,
(Janet Bennett) wrote:

parents' garden, but I know that they will be unable to attend to
them.

At peak cropping season, very frequent harvesting is essential

Is there a variety that can cope with drought, good cropper, and one
that you don't have to spray to set the flowers?

Hassayon says that white flowered varieties don't have problems setting
pods. All books seem to be definite about lots of water being essential.

I think you should consider something else

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

"Nick wrote in message .after..
Bob wrote:

I'll second that. Also the old variety "Painted Lady" seems similarly
hardy
and you get beautiful flowers too. We grow them both and although they
did
suffer with the unusual heat and drought of last season they survived to
crop and also we got a superb crop late in the season too as the
temperature
went down, a second flush.

I grew Painted Lady once and, while it was pretty, the beans were
stringy and ill-flavoured. I tend to grow Polestar.

Not found that with P L, but I agree Polestar is a good'un too although we
have gone over to Desiree lately. If you grew both, a couple of Desiree and
then a couple of Polestar,that would make a nice red and white show. :-)

--
Regards
Bob

Use a useful Screen Saver...
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
and find intelligent life amongst the stars

Thanks for your recommendations, much appreciated.


"Janet Bennett" wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good runner bean to grow. I want to grow some
plants
for my parents' garden, but I know that they will be unable to attend to
them. Is there a variety that can cope with drought, good cropper, and
one
that you don't have to spray to set the flowers? I know I'm expecting a
lot, but does anyone know of such a variety?

Many thanks




Remove NOSPAM to reply
Jan

Thanks for your recommendations, much appreciated.


"Janet Bennett" wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good runner bean to grow. I want to grow some
plants
for my parents' garden, but I know that they will be unable to attend to
them. Is there a variety that can cope with drought, good cropper, and
one
that you don't have to spray to set the flowers? I know I'm expecting a
lot, but does anyone know of such a variety?

Many thanks




Remove NOSPAM to reply
Jan