Two runner beans to one cane?

[Gemmalaveen]

I was just wondering whether anyone had tried growing two runner bean plants per cane? My garden is small so I am trying to maximize growing space. I am growing the beans in a large container with wig-wam structure for support, so they won't be able to grow very tall. The soil they are growing in is rich (added loads of vermicompost from the wormery) and I will water and feed them well.

I read somewhere to sow three seeds per station and then thin them out. They have all come up now and I just hate having to kill off seedlings I don't have space to transplant them elsewhere.

Any advice?

[Polly Fouracre]

As long as your soil is rich enough two beans will do well. You will need to water a bit more.

[Gemmalaveen]

Thanks Polly... I will cull the third plant tomorrow at the base of each cane and I might try and find somewhere to sneak the extra plants in if I can transplant them successfully.

[chris]

I do that, same as peas too (two per station).. Has worked well for me, so shall do it again this year!

[vicky]

I'm too greedy and always do 2 per cane - at least!

[WendyC]

I always do two per cane - French beans and Runners. Made mental note to self to last year to grow less of each this year as we always have too many and no-one likes them frozen.

[Glutton4...]

I always do two per cane - French beans and Runners. Made mental note to self to last year to grow less of each this year as we always have too many and no-one likes them frozen.

Same here, on both counts!

[Bramble_killer]

I grew three french beans to a cane last year but they got tangled up so going for two this year. My wigwams are six canes so thought that would be plenty of space

[vicky]

Defrosted beans are ok in curries/stews

[Gemmalaveen]

Thanks everyone for the advice... I will stick to two per cane but may try three on one cane just for a laugh (clearly I don't get out much).

I have still never really had a glut of anything, so bring it on!!!

[taff]

I usually do two, if there are any straggly looking ones, i sometimes do three.

[arpoet]

I always do two per cane - French beans and Runners. Made mental note to self to last year to grow less of each this year as we always have too many and no-one likes them frozen.

I cant understand you not freezing them. As long as you pick em young and tender and blanch and freeze em as soon as picked they are a great stand by veg. Last year i froze down about 30lbs of both french and runner beans.. Am down to my last couple of lbs.
Roger

[chris]

I can never be bothered to blanch, does it make much of a difference?

[Minamoo]

Thank you thank you thank you for telling me I can plant two per station! Lol! I can now get in twice the number of beans! Woohoo! A friend is growing another variety to swap for some of my toms and I got some seeds for purple ones from another friend but was beginning to wonder where I'd put them all!

[Bramble_killer]

I can never be bothered to blanch, does it make much of a difference?

No. I never blanch. Pick them young (finger thin) or slice to required thin-ness, wash, shake a bit and freeze in trays. Then shake them into a bag. Handfuls when you need them. I don't think it matters to blanch.