Runner beans questions

[Containergardener]

I'm trying to decide where to grow my runner beans.
Last yr I didn't have much success, same size pots but using wigwam effect in each tub.
I grew prize winner and firestorm.
Weather was pants through summer.

Best success had was when the weather was hotter .
I had them against a permanent trellis.
I grew scarlet emporer.

Now was it the weather, the type I grew or the trellis ?

Any thoughts please? Weather I cannot change as far as I know

[Scarlet]

I don't grow in pots so I'm not best placed to answer this. Potstubsdustbin grows runners in pots and will probably pop in later.

Out of interest, how big are the pots and how many plants per pot did you have?
When you had them growing up the wigwams were the pots more overcrowded?
How often do you water?

[Containergardener]

They are large shrub pots , I think large laurels came in them. Same size pots each time, think was 3 or 4 plants in each. Watered plenty in the hot weather (hosepipe) , loads of rain last yr less watering by me required.
Thanks scarlet

[Containergardener]

These were the better yr ones on the trellis in the sunny yr, the other pic of poorer yrs ones.
Maybe it was just the weather , I dunno.

[Thelma Sanders]

Poor compost?

[WendyC]

I think I'd only put a couple of plants in each pot. Were they fed at all?

[Lumpy]

I am growing the bush varieties of Hestia and Jackpot as I can put one plant in an MFB and don't need to construct frames etc.

The benefit for me is that I can move them around the garden if I have to.

[Jungle Jane]

I tried a couple of celebration runner bean plants in a pot,they made good vines but I got 2 or 3 beans it wasn't good,there are good container varieties though. This old link shows firestorm can grow well in containers so maybe they didn't get enough sun last year?
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ers_73266.html

[Philthy]

The weather last year was pretty rubbish. Runners have always done best for me in full sun. Having grown them in open ground and in tubs the results have been marginally better for open ground plants, but not a huge gap in performance, provided watering and feeding of the containers is consistant, and they're not overplanted. I'd go 2-3 plants in those pots. Rich soil is of benefit.

I bought a new variety (for me) to try this year; Moonlight.

...The vastly improved flower setting means an earlier and continual crop even during poor weather

After last year's ropey summer definitely worth a go I think

PS There's no reference made as to whether the variety would work well in pots...

[Potstubsdustbins]

Firestorm are a good bean for containers. I grow them at one plant per MFB or household bucket, that's the smallest container I can get away with so yours maybe a little over crowded.

Did you use new compost? If not what did you use to add nutrients before planting?

They must be fed and watered regularly ignoring rain. With all the foliage above the container rain will do very little good and even with new compost you should start to feed after 4 to 5 weeks.

Couple of pics to show my set up.

[Penellype]

I grew 2 plants of Red Rum last year, 1 per 5 litre pot. The pots were placed directly onto soil and I watered them well every day. I've not grown this variety before but they produced a fair crop of beans from climbing my archway in a poor year and sown very late.

[Containergardener]

Thanks everyone.

I did feed as before, with new compost, Iwill try again and il try less per pot and more watering...and pray for heat.
Have bought some more seeds today, so 3varieties now hehehe.