Best Runner Beans

[Jamesy_uk]

I am the only one who will eat them now, after last years massive french bean success of mainly Cobra variety it converted everyone and now they only want frenchies. I have to admit I did prefer frenchies as well, maybe i will make myself a nostalgia wigwam of Scarlet

[zazen999]

I much prefer French beans but Mr Z likes to do some runners so we only grow about 4 of those - on his patch natch!

[Alison]

I grow mainly Frenchies for both fresh and drying but have a few Red Knight runners in too. Grew them last year and they were pretty good and seemed to freeze well too.

[Matt94]

the only problem i find with french beans is that the cropping period is relatively short compared to runner beans.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow White Lady & Red Rum have done for years, not very adventurous but SWMBO likes the different coloured flowers and we both love the beans.

White Lady have always been a pain to germinate they turn to slush at the drop of a hat. Last year I tried 2Sheds idea of pre chitting the seed and had much better results.

Colin

[MrsDaffy]

I've not had much luck growing beans in the past - I've bought a few plants from the garden centre but they never grew any taller than about 10cm.

This year I'm growing from seed and I'm determined to get a decent crop. I've got Real Seeds Cupidon Dwarf French Bean and Cosse Violette purple climbing bean.

[Jamesy_uk]

the only problem i find with french beans is that the cropping period is relatively short compared to runner beans.

I am looking to work on that this year, i had i think 16-20 plants last year sown all at the same time but this year I am going to do at least 2 sowings. I will sow 26 next week (13 cobra and 13 Cosse Violette) and then the same again early/mid June so hopefully I can get a good 3 month+ crop window weather allowing. Who am i kidding eh lets face it we will probably have snow storms in September the way things are going.

[binley100]

I've not sown any yet .......plenty of time

[Matt94]

well i have used most of my french bean seeds (80 dwarf and 50 pole) oops - i never seem to do well with frenchies anyway im lucky if i get a couple off of each plant

[Loudbarker1]

One day I will have the space to grow runners: my current intention si to grow scarlet emperor and white lady or Lady Di so this thread is realyl helpful Has anyone tried to so called son of Scarlet Emperor - Scarlet Empire?

[Paulottie]

I grow a variety called 'Celebration' for two reasons: One...the beans are stringless and very tender. Two...the flocks of bloomin' sparrows here don't eat all the flowers; for some unknown reason they go for the pinks less. I get a good but not an outstanding yield but frankly there are only so many beans I can cope with. I normally do three batches (6 week intervals) to spread the season...younger plants give better beans I think. I will save seed but, being outbreeders, I do buy fresh every 3 years.

If you having problems with germination... water less...I always sow indoors. I also put up a wind break for early plantings....all beans hate a cold wind. I will say that last year was pretty poor for runners anyway.

Re French beans...you could try 'Hunter'...a climbing flat bean. My family love them. I also grow 'fasold' another french climing one that seems productive and stringless.

[GardeningMike]

Hi RealFood,

There is a lot of hype around the advertising of 'White Lady' runner beans - I have not found it to be very heavy cropping relative to other varieties, for example like St George, Painted Lady and Celebration which I have personally found yielded significantly heavier yields. For example a trial I did in 2007 gave White Lady (1.3 Kg per plant) and Painted Lady (2 Kg per plant).

I think Tozer produced the 'white-flowered' Starlight, which I think is a heavier-yielding than Moonlight, and is also supposed to have some of self-pollinating characteristics, as it has some climbing french beans genes in its pedigree. I would quite like to do a split-pot trial this year of Moonlight vs. St George comparing earliness, yield and flower/pod drop. If I do I'll let you know!

Best wishes
GardeningMike
(horticulturist)

[Jamesy_uk]

well i have used most of my french bean seeds (80 dwarf and 50 pole) oops - i never seem to do well with frenchies anyway im lucky if i get a couple off of each plant

Just a thought Matt have you checked the most obvious culprits for pole beans at least?

1: Lack of water will cause them to drop their flowers without a pod (was my problem at home last year i think)
2: What kind of plant feed are you using if any? Try a tomato feed as you might have too high a ratio of nitrogen and it's putting on greenery instead of pods.
3: Is it very windy?, can make it harder for insects in windy conditions to spread the love and harder for the beans to grow.
4: Full Sun, frenchies love the sun and they can grow without it full on but reduced growth and yields like most other plants.

Last point although some people may not be convinced, pinch out the growing tip when it reaches the top of your frame

I blame points 1 and 4 for my problems last year at home and I am sure some other people might point out things I missed or might not be correct, I am going on what I read from here and experienced myself.

[realfood]

Gardening Mike, I am all for people carrying out their own trials, which may give different results depending on which part of the UK you are in. Gardening Which do not state where they carried out the trial, but it is probably in the South of the UK.
They say that they trialled 5 new Runner bean / French bean crosses, but two are not available to buy yet.

[horticultural_hobbit]

My staple had been scarlet emperor. Purely because that was what I had when I started. This year, I decided to deviate and get some white lady. The first batch, germinated but died in the 4tb. I've sown a second batch, and they are getting started in the 4tb. I had saved some scarlet emperor, only a few; so now have a bit of both. Have never grown a great number, and they all end up being curried by ma. So I'll be interested to see what happens. If they get down to the boggy allotment.