Runners -flowers ....

[SusieG]

Should my runner bean plants be flowering by now ....? I have 10 plants growing up a bean frame and I can see just two tiny red buds .... There's been tons of slug damage after all the rain, and was just wondering if they should be further on by now and should I feed with them with anything to encourage flowers...?

When planted soil had been previously treated with cow manure and some BFB.

[mrswadders]

flowers???? mine all got snailed, have had to sow some more which i'm moddycoddling in the GH until their big enough to survive! I'll either get very late beans or none at all this year! fingers crossed for an Indian summer!

[Jungle Jane]

Mine don't have any colour yet,just green buds,they're nearly at the tops of the bamboo poles. Once they've been nipped out at the top of the pole they'l concentrate on developing flowers & repetitive flowering & hundreds of beans.

[Ryez]

The ones that were damaged heavily by slugs are probably going to be slower to grow as they are more likely to be throwing new shoots. Mine are just forming red buds. The ones that climbed up the poles undisturbed should have flowers by now... I have given mine organic liquid tomato feed once a month.

[Bren In Pots]

Mine were sown the first week in May and are around 2ft tall no sign of flowers yet but the plants themselves look fine. I've just added lots of grass cuttings as a mulch not to sure if it helps them.

[sparrow100]

I'm operating on the basis that nearly everything is a month behind this year. Strawberries and other soft fruit is bucking the trend, but all my other crops are S.L.O.W. Runners are 5ft tall and no sign of flowering. All other beans are losing both the battle and the war with slugs.

[SusieG]

Aaah thanks - not just me then .........! So hopefully now we're going to get some sunshine (?) they should perk up a bit and start producing some flowers ......
I didn't know that nipping out the top would encourage more growth/flowers - just need 'em to grow now!!
Think I might just give them a watering with liquid tom feed ....

[Jungle Jane]

If you don't nip off the top they can carry on growing & producing more flowers,except they get top heavy & congested,but it depends how they're being trained,mine are on teepees.

[Jay-ell]

My runners are about 2 foot tall and have a few little red dots just showing. Another 5 or 6 foot to go before I pinch out the tips

Mine seem to be more held back by the weather than the slugs.

[Lumpy]

Mine are dwarf variety and only have about 6 leaves. I have sowed some more but don't hold out much hope of having a bean fest this year.

[Penellype]

My mid-May sown runners are about 5ft high and just starting to produce flower buds but no flowers yet. The lack of sunshine (its been quite cloudy in the east for much of June) will not have helped.

The ones at my friend's have lace for leaves, even when protected by rings of copper tape.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Thanks peeps you've just made me very happy..............mine look like this today

With regards to feeding, before the beans set try high nitrogen 'miracle grow' changing to high potash 'tomato food' when you have beans.

[Nannysally99]

Mine have a few red flowers now, so it's 'happening'
Next problem is hubby inspecting said beans for bees. He is always paranoid they won't find them lol

[Bigmallly]

Like Potty, I am also quite happy as I thought mine were a little behind due to the recent heatwaves we've been experiencing..............

Munty frame, both sides are around 10ft & meeting at the top (CFB - Hunter):



Bean Frame, have been picking Mangetout Bijou for a few weeks, CFB Tiger & Runner Bean Scarlet Emperor are starting to show:



Am really pleased with the "Shuttlecock". Around 6ft tall, lots of flowers & a few Beans forming (Runner - Scarlet Emperor):

[craftymarie]

I think I've been very lucky with my runners. St George variety with beautiful red and white flowers which bees just seem to love. I'd definitely pick them again - my daughter loves the taste of them though she doesn't like my mangetout.

Extensive slug damage when first planted out and almost lost one plant but it rallied back and I started picking my first ones 2 days ago. They are in the sunniest part of the garden with pretty much all day sun - when it is sunny - so I should think that helps a lot. I dug loads of chicken manure pellets into the compost before planting, perhaps that has helped as well.

Haven't been so lucky with my peas. They had trouble germinating and they have been very slow to grow.