Little buggers have had me runner beans!!

[Ricardo]

Yep, despite slug pellets, snails have eaten the growing tips of most of my runner beans, and had a go at my French beans also, so I'm gonna be a bit short. Grrrr.
My question now is that I read somewhere that you can still sow both runners, french and broad beans at this time of year for a late autumn crop.
Has anybody done it and is it worth a try.
They will be in raised beds (surrounded by copper tape, slug pellet trenches, landmines, razor wire, guard towers, the whole deal)
Grrrrr (again)

[Shadylane]

Never done it but I reckon you could. I think you're supposed to with frenchies to get a second crop as they're not as prolific as runners. Anyway, if they've took the tops off they should send out side shoots. First year I grew them this happened to me and they still grew fine, just a little behind.

[arpoet]

I sowed another dozen CFB in the g/h this week to replace lost ones.
The year of the floods i re-sowed runner beans in July and was picking right up to mid December, so have a go Ricardo.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

It all depends on your weather Ricardo - where are you? (you should put this into your profile, it helps no end)

We've had cool wet summers for the last 3 years here and my beans have rotted rather than ripen.
Dwarf Frenchies are quicker, but being low to the ground are more prone to slug damage

[Ricardo]

Thanks for the tip Two Sheds. I'm in leafy Surrey. I'll add it to my profile.
Thanks to everybody who took the time to advise me - its much appreciated.
I just started this veg growing malarky last season, and was hugely encouraged by the results. However, it does seem that last year was a particularly good one and I may have had some beginners luck, because everything seems to be struggling down here at the mo.

[Munch]

The lady nextdoor have about 20 odd runners doing really well, she started them off early and they were about 4 foot tall.

She even spent the whole of winter pushing back the over grown garden next door to clear a space to grow them.

She went away for a week, it rained, the slugs got the whole lot!

I feel so sorry for her.

[binley100]

If they'be been eaten above the first leaf joints then they may resprout from the joints......

[Florence Fennel]

I'd give it another go, I'm sure there's still time.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Whilst I would certainly sow more runners in pots just in case. I would not be in to much of a rush to yank the originals out. As Binley said there is ever chance they will throw a new growing tip from a leaf joint.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

Runner beans are perennials, so they'll most likely regrow from the base (if the snails have left any base). Do a night-time hunt with a torch and a bucket of salty water: you'll be amazed at how many you find

[poppysocks]

I thought you could put a second crop in July and did a second sewing a few days ago. I have had some slug damage but not too much but I have lost some plants which just seemed to wilt and die, I suspect I haven't watered them enough.

[reetnproper]

I'm sure I read something in Augusts GYO about sowing more french beans then (August). Mind you I think that they were talking about growing under cover. It's got to be worth a try, if you have spare seeds. I was going to do another sowing of french beans this week anyway (we have more than enough runner bean plants) because I have some seeds to use up which will be 'out of date' by next year.

Good luck and happy snail hunting,
Reet
x

[daisygrubber]

I planted some more runners on Monday in pots in my conservatory and they are almost ready for planting out I can't believe how fast they have grown especially today.

I think its worth a go.

[Two_Sheds]

I have some seeds to use up which will be 'out of date' by next year.

They're not really out of date, some or most of them will still germinate next year, or the year after ... I'm germinating bean seeds that are years old

[chris1389]

I bought some dried peas from the supermarket and planted them last week not expecting much. within three days they have sprouted with almost 100% success. I plan to plant these out as soon as they are big enough in a fairly large raised bed.

Anyone know if any chance of these working? I only didnt buy seeds from garden centre as didnt want to pay £4 a pack!!