What's up with my runner beans?

[Nicky]

I've grown Lady DI runner beans this year. I had hight hopes for them.....

"Superb long, slim, fleshy completely stringless 12 inch pods with a very slow seed development resulting in heavy crops of tender delicious dark green pods over a long season."

I sowed them exactly how/when I should, so I was later than most the other people on the plots but it said they liked to mature later.
What I've ended up with is the most awful beans I've ever tasted. They grew quite quick and if they're not really young then they are unedible, the outer skin is so tough that you just can't bear to eat them and a few people have tried them to their horror. I've hardly had any, chucked most away when I was looking forward to a bumper crop where I could save some for the winter by freezing as well.
The leaves also developed brown spotting on them which I've not had in the past, mind you it's only the second year I've had the plot.

Any ideas what went wrong so I can correct it for next season?

[scared55]

I have so many answers to this, but Scarey55 keeps saying things about ontopic, moderators, thrashings and things ...

KK

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi Nicky - how disappointing for you! Can I suggest that you shell the runners and eat the beans as beans instead?

[andrewo]

Hmmm, I would treat them like a dried bean now and keep them for stews, as Hazel says, shell them and then use them.

It could be a variety that has a narrow window of harvesting for taste before they go over. It could be the soil too, what was there before?

[Flummery]

Could it be the good old weather? Wet as a wet thing and then a warm spell. Maybe they just shot their bolt at the sight of a bit of sun.

[witch-1]

I might be wrong but the last time I grew runners (apart from this year) was about 10 years ago and I'm sure they were Lady Di's... I found exactly the same problem - which was what put me off growing them again!

This year I have had better beans - some were stringy or woody, but most ok!

Will be back with variety in a mo...

Jan

[JennieAtkinson]

Nicky, this is my third year of growing the variety Polestar. I have saved seeds from each year to grow on and as the pollination has been good this year I've had my best crop ever. And they are the most delicious, tasting beans. Not stringy - no need to trim the edges and take about 2/3 mins to cook. And I only started them off in late April.

[rustylady]

I grew Best of All this year, and they've been fantastic. In spite of the dry weather they've cropped well, only a few too tough to eat and that was my fault for leaving them too long. Never tried Lady Di. I do like to try new varieties but if I am going to do so I usually just do a few plants, along with a trusted variety - that way you can compare results. Never trust the seed catalogues completely - they're a bit like Estate Agents.

[King Carrot]

Call me mr unadventurous but i grew scarlet emperor again! started off in may as usual this year and arrived 3 weeks later than last year and have had a bumper crop so far. I always pick them when there around 6-7", no strings at all, just top & tail and steam till ready. yum yum

KC