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Post by flowerweaver on Sept 12, 2015 15:29:19 GMT -5
I tried runner beans for the first time last year; they flowered but never produced a pod. By luck of location the tornado didn't harm them, so it wasn't that. They were all Hammond's Painted Lady, so perhaps I should try some other varieties?
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Post by philagardener on Sept 13, 2015 9:02:47 GMT -5
Always fun to try new things, flowerweaver ! I'd be glad to share some classic Scarlett Runner and Insuk's Wang Kong if you would like to give them a try; both did well for me here but did not set well in the hottest weeks of my summers. |
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Post by steev on Sept 15, 2015 20:18:16 GMT -5
Holly had sent me a variety-pack, which produced five seeds from two (of twenty) plants; I think runner beans hate my farm's climate. I've grown them in the Bay Area successfully, but I think they're just going to be one of those "I feel like struggling with these out of sheer bull-headedness" things, on the farm.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 28, 2015 21:21:50 GMT -5
Here is what my second harvest of runner beans looked like. (I don't eat them that way. It was super time, and I was shelling them before diner, and needed something to use to show scale.)  |
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Post by squishysquashy on Oct 5, 2015 15:08:51 GMT -5
Pretty beans, Joseph!
Has anyone had success growing runner beans for a fall pod set? Anyone from the south where you have split seasons? If the young plants are pretty heat tolerant, it seems that my best bet would be to plant in late July for a fall harvest. I only have so much trellis space and in spring it will be dedicated to green beans and dry pole beans.
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Post by reed on Oct 5, 2015 19:43:57 GMT -5
My first reaction was planting runners for fall might not be a good idea. But, I don't know. I planted these in spring and they didn't do much, it didn't look like I would even get my seed back. During the early summer wet spell more than half rotted off at the ground and then more just dried up and croaked for no apparent reason. Then in last few weeks after hot near totally rainless weather I got some pods. Right now there are quite a few more big beautiful pods, the best of all, enough to at least quadruple what I already picked below, that is if they have time before frost. Anyway squishysquashy , I realized you are in Texas. Your falls might last much longer, you idea of planting late might be just the ticket for you. I would sure give it a try.  |
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Post by squishysquashy on Oct 5, 2015 23:32:11 GMT -5
I will definitely try it next year. Maybe I'll get lucky and it works and I won't even have to mess around with creating my own landrace. Our first frost doesn't usually happen til around Nov 15 but we can get very close on Halloween. My main concern is how much babying will I have to do for the young plants to survive our late summer temps.
Love all the pretty bean pics!
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andyb
gardener
Posts: 179
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Post by andyb on Oct 10, 2015 12:57:59 GMT -5
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Post by eastex on Jan 24, 2016 8:11:51 GMT -5
I have hung onto a variety I got from a Canadian lady called Saddie's Horse runner bean. I am going to finally plant them out this year to grow on the front fence in my front yard. It's east facing, so it won't get the afternoon scorching. But I'm dubious after reading here about their dependability in the heat! We shall see how successful I am this year. I just fell in love with the colors of the dry seeds and I wanted to make sure I could plant them somewhere they would get some afternoon shade. Hopefully with our late frosts, I can get some seed set in the fail.
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Post by diane on Jan 24, 2016 18:19:15 GMT -5
The fastest runner I grow is AZTEC WHITE RUNNER BEAN from Native Seeds Search. Each plant puts up lots of short shoots which produce early, but it continues to grow taller,. and the taller growth produces later. It's almost a combination bush/pole plant.
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Post by robin282 on Feb 2, 2016 19:38:43 GMT -5
Two years ago, I grew scarlet runner beans, I had 10-15 plants. I tied them up. I got a very good amount of seed from them. Last year, I planted painted lady and sunset on 2 different places in my yard. I did not get to tie them up. I still got seed, but not a lot. I like growing these beans, and I plan to continue. I would like to begin collecting them. I have 3 kinds now, but I really like the look of the mostly purple seed. I know, as far as flowers go, white is the only one I have left to get. I was hoping that there would be more colors there. I grow them for flowers. I saw some posts about the heat and flowers, but not many pods. I live in Maine, but it does get into the 80s here in the summer. and my plants were agains a wall facing full west. I offer this just as info. Maybe the heat meant in the posts was 90s or something. (All my numbers are Fahrenheit.) I wouldn't mind swapping seeds if anyone wishes.
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Post by diane on Feb 2, 2016 21:43:13 GMT -5
They thrive here, and our usual daytime high is about 22C (low 70s F). Occasionally we will have a day or two of 28, (about 82), which prostrates me.
I would never put them against a west facing wall, though.
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Post by steve1 on Feb 3, 2016 4:31:36 GMT -5
Hi Diane, I seem to have issues with pods setting over about 30 Celsius, and it gets into the 40's here. First pods are just setting on my runners now, we had hot weather here early this year and I think they got a bit dry too.
Look out for white monarch or white Dutch. There is also a bunch of runner x common beans bred by Thompson and Morgan that have the big runner type flowers but allegedly more heat tolerance and better eating characteristics. They are available in North America. Not sure if they are perennial, but in Maine that's not likely going to happen unless you lift the roots anyway. Beautiful part of the world.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by diane on Feb 3, 2016 12:43:07 GMT -5
runner x common bean hybrids
are they fertile? If you sow the seeds they produce, do they show a diversity of traits?
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Post by steve1 on Feb 3, 2016 22:50:23 GMT -5
I believe they are stabilized so there is a mix of traits but breed true if you exclude pollinators...
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