Runner Vs. Climbing

[Essex Boys]

With limited space on the plot, which would you guys & girls grow & why? Scarlet Emperor or Climbing French Bean Hunter ?
I have one packet each of these beans.

Thanks

Danny

Essex Boys

[Mike and Louise]

Give me Scarlet Emperor any day.
Why? I guess I just like sticking to good old reliable favourites.

We too have limited space in the garden so we grow our runner beans in 3 big square tubs.
4 seeds per tub. 12 plants in all. Don't sound like a lot but we always get loads of big beans from them.

We still have loads of frozen beans from last year.

[Essex Boys]

Thanks guys, have taken note.

Cheers
Danny

[smallblueplanet]

French climbing beans any day. A good variety allows you to eat the whole pod (like runners) but if you can't pick 'em fast enough you can eat the beans/haricot too (unlike runners). I reckon they taste better than runners too, but well thats personal taste....

[Essex Boys]

Thanks Manda, two replies so far, one for each side.

[valmarg]

Thanks Manda, two replies so far, one for each side.

And one from someone on the fence. Both!!

I just love them both.

valmarg

[kirsty b]

Ok, grew scarlet emperor last year and while they grew well and vigorously I found them tough and stringy if they got too big, and I couldn't keep up with the picking.

Gonna have to plump for the climbing! (even though I am having a go at rotbleuhelde this year - runners no bigger than 6" and stringless)

[kethry]

another one for climbing, but that's personal preference. can't stand runners. not even growing them.

keth
xx

[vegnut]

Love them both i'm afraid. I would have to make room for both, i couldn't make a decision like that lol. Runners on one side and climbers on the other

[Two_Sheds]

French beans all the way for me. They do better in hot, dry summers too (well, there's hoping)

Why not grow a plant or two of each?

[TonyF]

French beans every time, as above, you can eat the lot and I think they're better croppers for the space.

[Getoffmylande]

I always go for climbing french beans but do prefer Cobra as the variety. Over the past two years they have been excellent. Prolific croppers and loads of lovely stringless beans. So much so that i had to give too many away couldn't freeze anymore and the kids had had their fill.

[Flummery]

I love climbing french beans too. I find runners quite coarse and hairy but the lovely squeaky frenchies are just gorgeous. Love the flavour, the texture, the fact that in my experience they set more easily and crop more heavily. (Unless you want to eat tough, hairy monsters - each to his own!)

There is such a variety in french beans too - many different colours, and as Manda said, you can choose to eat fresh, shelled or dried according to how your harvest goes. Love 'em - I cast TWO votes for climbing!

[Cutecumber]

We have always had problems with getting beans to set on normal runners so I have been growing the dwarf type in preference as they work better for us. This year I wont be growing any climbing runners but will find space for the climbing frenchies.

I like both and would grow both if space permitted.

[Mike and Louise]

We have never had stringy runner beans before.

If you leave just one pod to mature then flower production will sease and hence no more beans.
We pick our pods when they are 4 inches long that way they still produce flowers (hence more beans), they are sweeter tasting and are never stringy.