flowers dropping

[Bren In Pots]

My Scarlet Emperor runners are up to the top of their canes and they've got plenty of flowers but lots of them are dropping

They're grown in pots and I think I've done the right things up to yet kept them well watered, pinched out the tops, fed with comfrey every week and mulched with leaf mould.

Any ideas what's causing the flowers to drop ?

[rana]

Flower drop can happen in hot weather - alternatively they may have formed little beans at which point the petals are superfluous.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think that the first few flowers often drop off without setting, Bren - I've read that you can mist the flowers which will help, but quite honestly, in my experience they soon get going by themselves.

When you are knee deep in runner beans and have run out of both freezer space and friends to offload them on to, you will look back at this thread and laaaaaaaaaaaugh!

[piskieinboots]

When you are watering (with hose, whilst we still can ) spray gentle mist (as our H says above) this will help.

Also, hydratred lime watered down and watered at the roots does something to make the flowers more sweeter, thereby the bees can't say no

[Bren In Pots]

When you are knee deep in runner beans and have run out of both freezer space and friends to offload them on to, you will look back at this thread and laaaaaaaaaaaugh!

I really hope so Hazel

and thanks for the help everyone.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Also, hydratred lime watered down and watered at the roots does something to make the flowers more sweeter, thereby the bees can't say no

Never knew that - is that the reason that you lime the beds prior to legume-type planting....?

Also, is hydrated lime, like, normal lime?

[Hazel at the Hill]

I really hope so Hazel

Trust me on this!

[piskieinboots]

Never knew that - is that the reason that you lime the beds prior to legume-type planting....?

Also, is hydrated lime, like, normal lime?

this little gem came from Terry Walton - I read it, erm, (coughs) somewhere

[Flummery]

I've never had the first flowers on runner beans setting. They need to get into their stride. Watering and misting certainly does help. However, I now only grow French climbers. I prefer the flavour and texture anyway - so don't take any notice of my runner bean advice!

[Bren In Pots]

I'm also trying French beans (tendercrop) this year they're not in flower yet but I've read that they're easier to grow and are stringless so thats a bonus.

[Flummery]

If you like them (they don't have the rough texture of runners, so that's why I prefer them) you'll find CFBs very good growers and good yielders.

Happy birthday!

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks Flummery

[Lottieval]

If you plant a few sweet peas with your beans it will encourage the bees to come and pollinate your beans as well.