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#1
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Runner beans
Hi,
This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. I understand that a rich, compost is essential. Any advice on the type of compost would also be most welcome. Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? Thank you, Rufus |
#2
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Runner beans
Rufus wrote:
Hi, This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. I understand that a rich, compost is essential. Any advice on the type of compost would also be most welcome. Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? Thank you, Rufus Runner beans are deep rooting, so the tubs would need to be fairly deep. Also, they like their roots kept moist, so any grown in tubs would need careful watching. Try mulching heavily around the bases to conserve moisture. I'm sure it is possible to grow them in tubs, but will be a bit harder than in open ground, and will probably need lots of attention. Also, they do like to be well fertilised, so some well rotted manure mixed in with your compost would be a good idea. Having said that, I should think it is definitely worth doing, and runners can produce heavy crops over an extended period. Some varieties a Achievment and Kelvedon Wonder. |
#3
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Runner beans
In article , bigboard writes: | | Runner beans are deep rooting, so the tubs would need to be fairly deep. | Also, they like their roots kept moist, so any grown in tubs would need | careful watching. Try mulching heavily around the bases to conserve | moisture. I'm sure it is possible to grow them in tubs, but will be a | bit harder than in open ground, and will probably need lots of attention. | | Also, they do like to be well fertilised, so some well rotted manure | mixed in with your compost would be a good idea. | | Having said that, I should think it is definitely worth doing, and | runners can produce heavy crops over an extended period. I have seen it done very successfully in half barrels, and they are decorative, too. One of the many vegetables first grown for decoration! My guess is that you need to allow several gallons per plant, but that is a mere guess. Regards, Nick Maclaren, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Email: Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679 |
#4
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Runner beans
It is well worth the effort, even my frozen home grown taste better that the
supermarket ones. I line my trenches with upto about a dozen sheets of newspaper, soaked well before I fill with soil and compost then soak that well before I plant the seedlings (I start the beans in the greenhouse). I would imagine lining the bottom of your tubs with newspaper would have the same effect. At the height of the growing/fruiting season they will need watering just about every day so retaining as much water as possible in the tub is important. I would not worry too much about variety, providing they are fed (tomatoe food) and watered often you should be OK. Pick them young and cook straight away. AndyP |
#5
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Runner beans
"Rufus" wrote in message ...
Hi, This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. snip Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? It is most certainly worth doing. You will never get supermarket runner beans as fresh, tender and cheap as you do by growing them yourself. In addition it is very satisfying to pick your own veg. Nick H, still enjoying my 2002 runner beans from the freezer. |
#6
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Runner beans
On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 11:39:09 -0000, "Rufus"
wrote: Hi, This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. I understand that a rich, compost is essential. Any advice on the type of compost would also be most welcome. Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? Definitely worth a go - home-grown beans are so much better than shop bought jobbies. Don't be tempted to let the beans grow too big... six inches long gives a succulent bean that lacks the coarseness of the shop's stock. Picking the beans at this stage should also cut down on the nutrient take-up, thus prolonging the cropping season. They also freeze better at this size. Can't recommend any particular variety - but why stick with one? Most nurseries and garden centres sell bean plants round about May.. why not stick a different variety in each pot? Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
#7
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Runner beans
"Rufus" wrote in message ... Hi, This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. I understand that a rich, compost is essential. Any advice on the type of compost would also be most welcome. Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? Thank you, Rufus I had three plants in a very large flower pot last summer and they did very well. I trained them up wire suspended from and odd bit of trellis that sticks out at the end of a row. They do like a LOT of water so I ended up standing the pot in a deep (ex cat litter!) tray with water in it at all times. The only thing was that I did seem to get a glut all at once over a shortish period, and I find they don't freeze very well. However the rest of the family were pleased to take any surplus ones :~)) Jenny |
#8
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Runner beans
On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 19:55:04 +0100, "JennyC" wrote:
SNIP I find they don't freeze very well. SNIP I agree to the extent that I haven't found any to be the equal of fresh picked but some varieties suffer less harm from freezing than others. e.g. Painted Lady is relatively good. |
#9
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Runner beans
Rufus wrote:
Hi, This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. I understand that a rich, compost is essential. Any advice on the type of compost would also be most welcome. Finally, is it worth doing, or should I stick to buying them from the local supermarket? Thank you, Rufus I would suggest you try climbing French beans instead. They don't crop as heavily as runner beans but require less water and food and seem generally tougher. Try Blue Coco - lilac/white flowers and dark purple pods, which makes picking a lot easier. They also crop along the whole length of the vine and do so over a period of months. Tasty as well and much better than anything you can buy in a supermarket! -- Larry Stoter |
#10
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Runner beans
On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 16:58:04 +0000, Stephen Howard
wrote: This year my wife and I hope to grow runner beans up canes in three large tubs. I would welcome any recommendations, particularly for beans that flower and crop well when restricted to tubs. Someone I knew used to grow amazing crops of beans in half barrels. Variety: Desiree (white flowered) He lived near the New Forest and used to go somewhere there and get horse manure (wrm) and put it in the bottom of the barrel. Good luck Cheers Pam Bristol |
#11
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Runner beans
Why not mix in a few sweet peas to make the whole thing a real eye catcher,
and it will also help bring in the bees for pollination -- David Hill Abacus Nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
#12
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Runner beans
Thank you everyone for taking the trouble to advise me on my runner bean
posting. I am now determined to plant up my two tubs and the screen. I like Larry Stoter's suggestion of growing climbing French beans and mixing runners with sweet peas as suggested by David Hill. I will grow French beans in one tub and Kelvin Wonder in the other. Later in the year I promise to post a progress report to the group. Thanks again. Rufus |
#13
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Runner beans
"Rufus" wrote in message ... Thank you everyone for taking the trouble to advise me on my runner bean posting. I am now determined to plant up my two tubs and the screen. I like Larry Stoter's suggestion of growing climbing French beans and mixing runners with sweet peas as suggested by David Hill. I will grow French beans in one tub and Kelvin Wonder in the other. Later in the year I promise to post a progress report to the group. Thanks again. Rufus You could pop in a couple of sweet peas too for scent/colour :~) Jenny |
#14
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Runner beans
"david" wrote Why not mix in a few sweet peas to make the whole thing a real eye catcher, and it will also help bring in the bees for pollination Why have I never thought of this?? I'll do that this year; we always have too many beans anyway. Sue |
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