Runner bean in a 4 pinter

[captainhastings]

Hi I plan to do some container gardening this year. Would an upturned 4 pinter be big enough to plant one runner bean in (polestar stringless)
Or do they need more root room ?
Any info appreciated
ta

[Two_Sheds]

The roots aren't that extensive. 4 pints? Not sure. It might work. I use 10 litre pots, what's that in English?

[Kristen]

6" deep by 12" diameter is 11 litres (if my maths is correct!)

[captainhastings]

It is ok I managed to find 3 old plastic kitchen bins which I cut down slightly and popped 4 beans in each. They are roughly about 4 gallon size. On the plus side they will be good for supporting the sticks too as their quite deep I guess so fingers crossed

[Florence Fennel]

Glad you've sorted it to bigger bins - I don't think your 4 pinters would have been big enough.

[bazzaboy]

Where are you Capt... Hastings presumably? I know a couple of hundred miles South you're a good month ahead of us Midlanders but still seems pretty early to me to be planting runner beans (they're not hardy...no more frosts in Hastings?). If you think of how most books tell you to dig a compost-filled trench for Runners it's a sign that they like a rich and moisture retentive soil so while the roots are not particularly extensive if you were to get something from a single pot you'd have to put a lot of energy in to keep such a small quantity of soil at optimum dampness etc.... So the container being bigger (x8) and multiple seeds (x4) makes good sense in terms of economy of labour and you should get a much better crop.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Polestar Stringless is classed as a early bean but I think you may be a bit to early as others have said. My seed wont be set till the middle of next month and then they will be inside.

As to the 4 pint container I can foresee problems, I grow in morrison black buckets which hold about 14 pints and at the height fo the season I have to water every day.


Colin

[Jono]

They'll need plenty of organic matter in the pots I should think? Runners like lots of manure.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Jono,

Just MPC or own compost if I have any, Miracle Grow in the early part of the season followed by tomorite when the beans have set.

Got just over 100lbs last year from 16 (I think) pots.

Colin

[Jono]

Jono,

Just MPC or own compost if I have any, Miracle Grow in the early part of the season followed by tomorite when the beans have set.

Got just over 100lbs last year from 16 (I think) pots.

Colin

Thanks Colin, I'll try feeding them. Last three years my yields have been paltry. Am trying a bush variety this summer, planted over a winter-dug trench filled with composty stuff.