Pinching young runner bean plants

[Smithster]

My young runner bean plants that I started indoors have bolted very quickly and are all wrapped around each other. Will it hurt them if their tips are cut back when planted out?

[Kristen]

Not ideal I would say, it will set them back a week, probably two, to get side-buds to break and side shoots to then start developing.

If you put them outside during the day, to harden off, that will slow them down a bit - and get them ready for planting out.

Best not to sow them too soon, or eagerly , next year

[Smithster]

Thanks Kristen - looking at them setting them back might not be too bad. I might try it with 3 or 4 plants and see how they fare and if it staggers them in their production it will be OK. Just a novice at this so your help is most appreciated.

[Kristen]

Sounds like a good plan

[lyndapet]

doesn't make much difference to cropping time .Last year my chihuahua decided to eat the tops of my runners and i still go a wonderful crop, instead of 1 stem i had 2 on each plant so almost a bonus


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[snakeshack]

Went up the lottie today to find the slugs had pinched about half of my beans, and I don't mean pinched them out


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[Kristen]

doesn't make much difference to cropping time .Last year my chihuahua decided to eat the tops of my runners and i still go a wonderful crop, instead of 1 stem i had 2 on each plant so almost a bonus

I disagree, I think pinching out something like a runner will put back the start of cropping 2 or 3 weeks. In the long term it will still crop well - maybe better as a "double cordon" - but when pinched out the plant then has to force a bud to break, and then get back into its stride, and that takes a little while.

Similar thing with Peppers. My answer to "Should I pinch them out" is to wait and see if the plant branches for itself (they usually do) 'coz if you pinch it out you set it back several weeks (compared to if it branches naturally)

[Two_Sheds]

My young runner bean plants that I started indoors have bolted very quickly

they haven't bolted, they've just grown tall very quickly, as they do.

There's no need to cut the tips off when you plant out but if you knock and break some it won't be all bad, more leaves will come.

The usual time to nip the tips out is just before they reach the tops of their supports. If you don't, the vines will just keep growing, up down & horizontally, into a tangled mess