How many runner bean plants?

[cupcake]

OK, there is only OH and myself left at home, I have already sowed dwarf french beans, so how many seeds do you think I should sow for the 2 of us of runner beans please to avoid a mega glut?

[bluemoon]

Perhaps you could sow your runners later in the summer, they can be sown up until July and will continue until the frosts. That way your runners would become available as your French beans were over.

[Gwen11ian]

I had six plants last year, and it was plenty for my husband and I to enjoy (without getting sick of them). As they main plant finishes you can cut it back a bit and new growth will shoot up to form a second crop.

[teakdesk]

I take it from your post that you don't want to freeze any excess.

Personally, if not freezing them, I prefer to eat them small and fresh off the plant.

So I would sow quite a few plants more than I need, so I can guarrentee that when we decide to add runners to a meal there are plenty of small ones available to be picked. I'd just compost any larger ones.

If you cut down on the number of plants you will be forced to eat some of the larger, overgrown pods.

[Herbie]

I grew 4 plants last year and still had enough for x4 family, x2 Neighbours and mum and dad

[TEB]

Everyone's different, I grew 9 and had run out by November

[allaboutliverpool]

One of the considerations is how early you want a full meal.

In theory 2 plants could give you plenty of beans but you would have to wait a long time to have enough for a decent meal.

Try 6 canes in a wigwam, 2 plants to a cane and you will not be disappointed.

[Snadger]

I don't like runner beans so I wouldn't plant any.

I do have two rows of 20 X 8foot canes set out to grow butter beans, climbing french beans and Ne Plus Ultra and purple podded peas though.

My other legumes are Mange Tout peas, broadies and Safari frenchies!

[cupcake]

Thankyou! I'll try 8 and see what happens.

[Alice]

I think 8 will be plenty for you cupcake.

[toastie]

Think 8 will be enough in addition to other beans. Grew 32 plants last year, ate them, gave them away to family, friends and hairdresser by the bagful. Also froze them - and have even given them away by the bag full. Still have about 5 pounds worth left in the freezer. Can honestly say it was far too many and plan to grow nowhere near that amount this time. Plan to use last year's seeds to grow this years plants putting them out about either at the very end of May/early June when they have been hardened off.

[Faughan]

Think 8 will be enough in addition to other beans. Grew 32 plants last year, ate them, gave them away to family, friends and hairdresser by the bagful. Also froze them - and have even given them away by the bag full. Still have about 5 pounds worth left in the freezer. Can honestly say it was far too many and plan to grow nowhere near that amount this time. Plan to use last year's seeds to grow this years plants putting them out about either at the very end of May/early June when they have been hardened off.

Thank you! Here is just me and I sow approx 18 seeds and though I may need to buy a second packet of seeds to freeze and have enough until next year.

[1Bee]

I had something like 12 last year. I went away for two weeks, having asked a friend who loved runners to pick them for me in my absence. When I came back, I was annoyed as she clearly hadn't been: I picked a carrier bag brimming with beans.

"You didn't get a chance to get to the plot?" I asked her.
"What do you mean? I picked two bagfuls and distributed them to half the village..."



We still have portions in the freezer. They're lovely...

(Will be having a reduced bean operation this season... )

[chris_m]

Well, having not done too well last year, I have 32 Hestia and 32 Achievement in rootrainers. IF they all come up they WILL be going in the ground and IF they all grow on successfully so be it.

If I end up with too many I'll cut down next year ;-)

[veggiechicken]

I grow lots of french beans and a few runners. If I have too many to eat, I give them away. Always happy to have a surplus - better than a shortfall.

Chris m - Hestia are dwarf runners (I think) so they should crop before the bigguns. Good plan.