|
Poor runner beans this year
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ?
This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants. Very disappointed. Here's what I've been doing, for any experts out there : I am using saved seed, 90% of which are Streamline. Well worked ground with my own compost. I started the plants indoors. Sowed in a cold greenhouse around the first or second week of April and thereafter. I've rotated the main trench this year, but planted a few in last year's trench (the blossom set problem exists in both trenches). I've watered as well as I ever have, misted to encourage pollination... I've even resorted to spraying with some sugary liquid to encourage insects to come and pollinate. I've planted more densely than most people would do, however, I work the soil deeper than most and haven't seen a problem in previous years. Could the very hot and dry weather for the past two or three weeks be the main cause of my runner beans not setting ? Look forward to hearing your views. -- Darren |
In article , wrote:
Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ? This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants. It is the dry weather. It is raining here in Cambridge, on the day that I am experimenting with an umu! Anyway, it will help with the beans. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
wrote in message ... Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ? This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants. Very disappointed. Mine are not very good either, I assumed it was because I'd got them in a bit late, but some flowers are beginning to set, I must consult the neighbours about their beans! -- Alan Reply to alan (dot) holmes27 (at) virgin (dot) net |
"Nick Maclaren" wrote It is the dry weather. It is raining here in Cambridge, on the day that I am experimenting with an umu! Anyway, it will help with the beans. An underground oven? Sounds fascinating, do let us know the outcome. -- Regards Bob In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London |
wrote in message ... Is anyone else suffering a very poor runner bean crop this year ? This is the poorest year I can remember. The blossoms seem to be mainly falling off the plant, without setting at all. Perhaps one or two out of a possible 15 blossom might set on my runner bean plants. Although on the I.W. we've had dry weather my beans are fantastic. The secret? A few years ago I bought a length of leaky pipe for my front garden bedding plants and they did well so this year I used the pipe around the wigwam of canes in the small raised bed to support the bean plants. When the dry weather really started I connected the pipe to a water butt. Although the pressure is of course very low, the pipe leaks enough to keep the soil moist. In the course of a week the water level in the butt drops by about 4 inches. I've refilled the butt three times from a second butt using a pressure pump and was going to fill it again the other day but it rained. My wife told me it's the best year ever for our beans. By the way, a nearby neighbour was going to plant some beans where she had grown them last year but saw those plants growing again - her husband had not dug up the old plants - so she left them and she too has had a super crop. Runner beans are perennials so why not leave them in? If there's no hard frost they'll come up again. Geoff |
My wife told me it's the best year ever for our beans. By the way, a nearby neighbour was going to plant some beans where she had grown them last year but saw those plants growing again - her husband had not dug up the old plants - so she left them and she too has had a super crop. Runner beans are perennials so why not leave them in? If there's no hard frost they'll come up again. I dug mine up, and stored them in dry earth in the greenhouse over the winter. They have done very well this year. Previously I left them in the ground but they rotted. A word of caution, even in the greenhouse they were very slow to get started, even after I potted them up and coddled them. Runners grown from beans beat them into growth. My uncle also tried planting his old runner bean roots out, but they failed to activate. All in all not a guaranteed method. I think my technique of overwintering them in dry eart in a greenhouse, then potting them up and bringing them on still in the greenhouse is probably the most failsafe method. Andy. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:03 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter