Queries on growing Runner Beans.

7 years ago

Why are my runner beans hard and lumpy? They are not straight and tender. Also the leaves became yellow and discoloured. They are growing in containers, but are well watered and are in a sunny position.

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Comments (4)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
7 years ago
One possibility is that you've left them to long, to eat as a green bean pick before the beans start to form in the pods when they're young and tender. Runners tend to get fibrous as they age.

Annette
jenkerrison thanked aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
7 years ago
Could be they got too hot. Subjected to heat, runner beans will form short pods with only a few seeds. The long, straight pods form in cool weather.
jenkerrison thanked zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
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I'm having a bit of trouble with your beans/pods terminology. I assume you are growing the runner beans for "shelling beans" to extract the seeds, or "beans", rather than using the runner beans as string beans, and eating the whole pod, seeds and all, fresh or cooked. For shelling beans, once the seed beans have swollen inside the pod, deforming the pod to the point where it splits open, the seed beans can be removed and then dried or cooked. If you shake the vines and can get a few seed beans to fall on the ground, it is time to harvest the whole crop of mature pods. For string beans, harvest when immature before the seeds swell. The huge beans/no pods thing is probably just the variable nature of this runner bean's self-pollinating capability. I would think the seeds would better for fresh eating when of a decent size but still immature. -------------- We've never had tomato plants do that here, I don't know what the problem is.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Are you talking about Scarlet Runners, Phaseolus coccineus? Or the types of Phaseolus vulgaris sometimes referred to as runner beans?

If the former they need to be harvested and eaten before the beans inside are developed. Almost before they are even discernible, in fact. The pods should be long and flat. With regular rain and temperatures around 60 - 75f we have been chomping our way through runner beans for 5 weeks now and they show no signs of slowing down. We have so many I don't bother with any where the beans are developed. They go straight on the compost heap. I haven't got time to turn them into 'shellies' and I haven't liked them like that when I've tried them.
jenkerrison thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
jenkerrison
Original Author
7 years ago
Unsure what the beans were. I think they may have suffered from too much sun! I will chance the growing area next year. Thanks for your help

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Queries on growing Runner Beans.

Comments (4)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada

zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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Queries on growing Runner Beans.

Comments (4)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada

zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

jenkerrisonOriginal Author

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jenkerrison
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