What's up with my runners.

[ourarka]

I sowed them indoors nice and early, and they grew strongly. I transplanted them a fair while a now, in to a compst enriched trench and they have really struggled ever since. Weather has been good, and whilst they may have got slightly dry at times, they've been fairly well watered. They jus look thoroughly miserable with life - any thoughts. They've always done fairly well in the garden up until now ......

[rustylady]

Don't worry, they will pick up when it warms up a bit. Mine have been out for ages and have only just started growing properly.

Could you add your location (nearest town) to your profile please so it shows on your posts.

[ourarka]

I hope so rustylady. It has been pretty nice here over the last few weeks but they haven't kicked on yet. Anyway, fingers crossed.

(Ps: sorted my profile I think!)

[darcyvuqua]

Don't worry, they will pick up when it warms up a bit. Mine have been out for ages and have only just started growing properly.

Could you add your location (nearest town) to your profile please so it shows on your posts.

Mine to the warm days cold nights really stumped mine just starting to run over the last week or so but blink and you missed them getting to the top of the cane

[Indigo23]

My runners are looking just as sad, if not worse but, if you look closely, the growing tips are still nice and healthy. I think they just don't like the rotten, changeable weather we've been having.

[Barking Postlethwaite]

the warm days cold nights really stumped mine

I think this is the crux of the matter; even though the daytime temperatures have been doing ok, until this last week or so it's been bloomin' cold at night for this time of year in the south, especially if you happen to be in a rural and/or exposed location.

Mine looked dreadful a fortnight ago, but they are charging forward at a rate now.

[Beanz]

I don't think it is just the weather. I am only a few miles from you yet mine are at the top of the canes with flowers an even small beans forming. Maybe their location is too exposed (mine are against a south facing fence)

[Two_Sheds]

I sowed them indoors nice and early, ... I transplanted them a fair while a

Did you harden them off?

Did you plant them outside in June, and not before? (putting them out when its too cold for them will make them simply stop growing. They may pick up, but they may just die)

[ourarka]

Thanks for all the replies - they we hardened off but I suppose I may have been a bit eager to get them in the ground. Fingers crossed they will come good, but if not there appears to be not much that can be done. I have sown some further seeds in between the four main plants and they have germinated in just a few days and are already an inch high ..... so maybe I might get something, if a lot later than usual!

[Two_Sheds]

Mine went out later than usual, but it was still too cold for them as it turned out: we then had a prolonged cold spell that lasted well into June.
I've struggled to keep my frenchies alive during the cold dark drought we've had, and they're just now starting to grow up their canes & to flower, after being in the ground over 2 months

[ancee]

Mine are truly pitiful this year - though my broad beans are immense so goodness knows what'll be in store for us this year! Gardening - the world of surprises!

[Two_Sheds]

my broad beans are immense

Yes, they do like cool wet weather, whereas the South Americans (french and runner beans) don't tolerate cold at all. It does pay to grow a bit of everything, because something will fail and something else will thrive, whatever the weather throws at us.

My broadies are usually over by now, but they've only just started cropping

[Jamesy_uk]

Mine are very similar and did the same thing last year and then about mid June they just rocketed up the poles and ended up with one of my best harvests.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have a run of 6 buckets of runners against a wall. The first bucket is on the corner of the house and exposed to the elements more than the others. Every year its the same, the plant furthest from the corner grows quickest and then each plant is just a little further behind its neighbour as you approach the corner. I have never bothered about it as its a natural way of spreading the harvest, but it does show just how susceptible these plants are to the weather.

Potty