Time to cull the runners

[Greenleaves]

The time has come remove some of the runner plants. I will keep four and let them run to seed. Being lazy when it comes to saving seed I am not sure on the best way to dry them properly before storage. Advice if I may please.

[Alison]

I never remove my runners until they die at the end of the year but as far as saving seed, just leave them on the plants for as long as possible then I pod them from the dried pods and leave them on a window ledge for a few weeks until they're so hard you can't leave an indent with a finger nail. They're then good to store. Word of warning though, they may well not come true to type as so many people grow runners and the cross easily. Not really a problem though if you don't mind not having a named variety and they all taste good.

[Greenleaves]

Thanks Alison

The beans are Firestorm ( a self fertile variety) and have no idea if they will stay true. I have a freezer full and cant give them away anymore hence the decision to take some down.

will have to borrow the OH's nails mind

[bario1]

Mine have gone over too - can they be left to their own devices and the beans be eaten like Cannelini beans or something? They are 'White lady'

[Greenleaves]

Mine are still producing masses of beans and flowers, I just cant store anymore

[Alison]

Mine are still producing masses of beans and flowers, I just cant store anymore

Have you tried salting them for storage?

[Bren In Pots]

Don't forget Runner bean chutney its one of my favourites.

[Penellype]

Have you tried salting them for storage?

I tried salting beans once - they were absolutely disgusting and I ended up throwing them away.

[arpoet]

I'm picking a pound a day, eat or freeze them or give them away. I hope to be eating fresh runners right up to the first bad frost. One mild winter I had some fresh for xmas dinner.
I also have a few that I'm leaving to go to seed for saving for next years plants.

[Chris172]

Hi

An abundance of the runners once again, frozen what I can given away what I can and still the plants as well as climbing beans are given back plenty.

The frost will get them however until then the company on the allotment are aware they are up for picking

Happy gardening


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[Bren In Pots]

I'm saving some for next years seed then the rest will be used in chilli con carne plus I'm going to overwinter a few runners again this year :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ans_78430.html

[Knight of Albion]

Still picking here - and a good number of flowers, so a while to go yet.

[Martin H]

My second sowing started cropping mid-August, they are just hitting their stride
I'm leaving the first sowing to go to seed now, should be plenty of time for them to ripen.

[Noosner]

Mine were late sown and have been cropping for about a week. Only 4 plants, so we are keeping pace with them well. If I'm home for lunch I steam a few, let them cool a bit, then mix with a spoonful of mayonnaise and have as part of a salad. Delicious, plus it helps you get through them because you can eat them twice a day i.e. hot for tea as well.

[Kristen]

When we have too many we pick them smaller - more tasty that way, and they seem to get more tough, for a given size, as the season progresses ...