Runner bean flowers all falling off

[veggiechicken]

Try some French beans as well, they don't need pollination and, seem to me to be less temperamental about the weather.

[Marb67]

I have never had any success with french beans and don't really care for them anyway. I can't recall ever getting a single bean from those. Always had succes with runners so I am really missing cropping them right now.

[veggiechicken]

I'm the opposite - find FB's much easier to grow and they don't need stringing or feel rough when you eat them - just a bit squeaky - which makes me laugh

[Alison]

I agree VC, French beans are much nicer but I still grow a small wigwam of runners for the variety. Mine are only just starting to produce now, much later than normal

[Alison]

There are two likely causes for the flowers dropping, marb. First, runner bean pollen doesn't work very well in hot weather. If that's the case they'll start setting in a few weeks when the weather gets cooler. If you want runner beans in hot weather in future you'd be better off with one of the newer, more heat tolerant varieties that have some French bean genes in them. There are a few of them but I can't remember any names offhand.

I do t think that can possibly the problem as it's really not hot in the UK at the moment

[vixylix]

^^^ I agree Alison!!

[Snoop Puss]

My mum told me this morning she's had the heating on! And she's down south and doesn't feel the cold that badly.

[vixylix]

Last year we had Autumn in August Snoop, and its looking like the same thing is happening again

[Marb67]

I just can't accept that out of hundreds of flowers since they have been growing ALL have failed to bean bar just one. It defies logic and it's still happening

[vixylix]

Marb I checked mine yesterday - from 6 plants I have a grand total of 3 beans!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Next year try Firestorm, self pollinating, done very well for me for the last 3 years.

[Marb67]

But all my flowers are healthy but not podding. I can accept logic etc but not when it goes against natural laws. I have netted around the plant just incase it is sparrows but this year for me has been the worse so far. I am beginning to resign myself to the fact that there are now so many pests working against me (with sparrows added this year) it's hardly worth bothering with anything.

[Marb67]

Just an update folks which you all deserve for future reference. The beans came in the end and were pretty good, still a few developing now, so worth the wait and glad I didn't pull them up.

[veggiechicken]

They look great Marb
I noticed yesterday that my French beans are still flowering - and my courgettes have finally started producing Its been a strange year all round!
I'm sure Mother Nature knows what she's doing - even if the rest of us don't.

[Greenleaves]

All good things come to those who wait