Tangled runner beans

[Loulou30]

I've grown my own runner beans from seed and they are going up and up without many leaves and getting all tangled. How do the garden centres get theirs to grow so compactly with big leaves?? Is it the size of the pot (I've sown in toilet roll tubes) or the amount of light they're getting maybe (on a kitchen window sill)??

[Jungle Jane]

Mine are getting tall on the bathroom windowsill,I'm going to put them outside to harden up,it's worrying thinking about moving them but they'll only get taller. I don't know how garden centres make tiny plants,I bought 20 white geranium plug plants a couple of months ago,the tray they were in was smaller than my hand I don't know how they do it?

[Penellype]

Garden centres have big greenhouses which let in much more light much more evenly than a windowsill. If you don't have a heated greenhouse you either need grow lights or put up with leggier plants. Beans will naturally try to wind themselves round anything they touch so unless you can separate them it may be best to try to train them up short sticks to keep them apart. Makes planting out tricky though.

[Jimmy]

When mine are in the outside and start to climb up the poles they always try to go astray.
I have to physically unwind them and train them up the one I want.
Even then they try to fight me.
I always try a few stern words when I train them.
Jimmy

[Scarlet]

It's warm enough outside during the day now..move them out in the day and back in last thing at night. Lack of light with too much warmth gives leggy plants. I've not sown mine yet. I will do them this weekend.