How do I grow the longest runner bean?

[mrbadexample]

Help please!

My friends and I are having a competition, to see who can grow the l o n g e s t r u n n e r bean. Each (4) of us have 5 beans (Long As Your Arm) from the same source.

I started by digging a trench and chucking a couple of buckets of compost / manure in (this was done at about the beginning of April; late, but better than not at all, I figured).

The plants are now out. They will be fleeced in the event of low temperatures.

How do I make sure I win? What is the best feed to use for bean production? Organic preferred, but not essential when there's a fiver at stake.

How should I tend the plant? For example, would it be advisable to let one bean set, and then remove every other bean from the plant as soon as it appears, so all the plant's energy is directed into one bean? Or can I harvest small beans so I get my dinner too? (Not too important as I have other plants).

Your help may be critical. Thank you.

MBE

[dave_norm_smith]

I read a lot of the blogs from the monster veg growers and I can't recall any of them mentioning which way is best. With 4 beans why not try two each way and edge your bets? A lot of them use Q4 as well by Vitax in their 'special mixes' for this and that.

Dave

Worse case- Superglue a bunch together and get them to judge after a few medicinal beverages! lol

[mrbadexample]

Worse case- Superglue a bunch together and get them to judge after a few medicinal beverages! lol

You're as bad as my dad, telling me to fill my pumpkins with lead shot.

What's Q4?

[chris]

Q4 Multipurpose Compost | Vitax

[mrbadexample]

Ah, thanks Chris. Bit late for that, as they're already planted out. Is there anything I can top-dress the soil with to feed them?

[dave_norm_smith]

Nah. Its pellet form the stuff I mean, same maker though!

Vitax Q4 2.5kg

( I know nothing of this garden centre- just the first picture I found!)

Dave

[chris]

I thought that the Q4 compost contained that feed? Or is that Vital Earths alternative?

You could also attach a weight to the bean, stretching it a bit hehe

[mrbadexample]

You could also attach a weight to the bean, stretching it a bit hehe

Don't think I haven't considered it.

Trying not to spend extra...I've got BFB and chicken poo pellets. Would either of those help?

[dave_norm_smith]

Mix a batch with water and give them a drink once a week! Don't forget to mist in the evenings when the flowers arrive to set the bean!

We will need pics and the results at the end!

[mrbadexample]

A batch of what?

I've never had problems with them setting, and I've never bothered spraying before, although I've never grown this variety before.

You will certainly see pictures at the end. I want to be entering them in the Vine show 2011.

[chris]

If you spray as soon as the flowers are there, they could set earlier, giving you a longer growing season.

Oh, not that I condone cheating, but see if you can delay them 1/2 a day and then pick it just before you go for the judging.. you'll have an extra 1/2 days growth then heh

[dave_norm_smith]

Of the poo pellets and the bfb. Stick a fist full of each in an empty milk carton, add water and shake the heck out of it. Add this once a week to a watering can as a liquid feed. If you could be bothered you could try different feed on each, maybe some nettle tea in there as well!

I think some of them grow along planks as well to take the weight of the long ones and hope to keep them straight. I'll see if I can find any pics

[dave_norm_smith]

I think I may have found your fellow competitors asking for advice elsewhere- here's the bit I robbed

Just to add, the key thing is to ensure you feed and water well

Do a trench and fill with manure and find a good nitrogen feed

Runner beans like plenty of water, you can't over water them

They also like a light spraying of water on the leaves but be careful not to knock the flowers off which you want to keep

Pick all your flowers of up to the first 2' as any beans grown under that hight will rest on the floor and get eaten or rot. Then also pick any other unwanted flowers off so that all the energy goes to your bean

I think I have killed this dead now but if there is anything else, just ask

( I think this was posted by Blicky as I know him from his blog)

Good luck

[mrbadexample]

No, that's not the competition. I found that earlier too.

Would comfrey tea help?

I will consider supporting the beans too.

I think now I need to know whether to restrict the number of beans?

[dave_norm_smith]

Restricting the number certainly seems to be what they were advocating and makes sense when you think about it. Pump as much energy into the one bean that you can!