How Are Your Beans Going?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by shiney, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    We have been away for a week and came back to loads of mature pods. We had to throw away most leaving just enough for a dinner or two. My crop is finished now, whilst the plants look healthy there are no more flowers coming.

    How is everyone doing now?
     
  2. pamsdish

    pamsdish Total Gardener

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    No flowers but still a good few beans, keep giving loads of water and will probably pick the last Sunday for lunch. :dbgrtmb:
     
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    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      Still getting some off my Runners, but the Climbing French stopped a week or two back.
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Same as you, John.

        We usually go away for a week in September and I remove all the beans before I go and just leave any baby ones. When we came back I picked about 10lb and half of them had to be thrown. I've had one picking since (Monday) of 7lb but we'll be lucky to get another meal.

        Ours are also covered in rust, which is not uncommon at this time of year. Never put the leaves of the beans in your compost if you've had any sign of rust. Bin or burn. Make sure every single leaf is removed from the site to help stop the fungus over-wintering. There's no chemical cure for rust that's available out side of the commercial industry.

        Also, never save seed from plants that have had rust. Apparently, they are more prone to getting the fungus again.

        They do say that you shouldn't plant beans for at least two years on an area where you've had bean rust. We have been planting on the same spot for 40 years and never a problem until the end of the season. If some rust appears on the leaves early in the season then you should remove and bin or burn. It will help stop the spread.

        It has been a good year for the beans but it was a surprisingly slow start - but the rabbits didn't help :doh:
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Ours did, too.
           
        • Lea

          Lea Super Gardener

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          I have just about a couple of meals worth left of mine to go now. It's been a good year for them so I am very happy with them. :)
           
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          • OxfordNick

            OxfordNick Super Gardener

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            Still getting both runners (enorma, painted lady) and french (blue lake, cobra) but they are almost done - possibly my best year for beans so I'm not complaining ! saving the increasing number of stringy ones for bean wine..
             
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            • Phil Holding

              Phil Holding Monty Don Rules

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              First year on an allotment so started with Broad Beans they did well, planted wigwam style runner Beans in various part of the plot, ( testing best growing spots etc) they have done brilliantly, in fact we have no more room in the freezer now, i have supplied friends/family and work colleagues, French Beans much the same as the Runners, i am now growing some of those Borlotti beans(not sure of the spelling) and a late crop of Dwarf French Beans Broad Beans in a different area.
              So might be beginners luck but i am very pleased with the crop this year
               
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                Last edited: Sep 25, 2014
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                • Phil Holding

                  Phil Holding Monty Don Rules

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                  Thanks for that always keen to experiment with different ideas,
                   
                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                  Cleared mine away last week. Mrs L (chief picker) has been sent for remedial training. That is all.
                   
                • rosietutu

                  rosietutu Gardener

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                  Just been out in the garden 1st thing picked another 5lbs of Runners,and still have a lot of flowers, husband is very experienced at slicing with a promise of a nice glass of something later
                  There is one thing I must tell you about the Unwins Moonlight, they start to crop very low down I have picked beans from only a foot high I really have to get down not to miss a lot of full sized beans bit of an effort to get up again:mad:.I was told this by the person that recommended them was bit surprised to see flowers only inches from the ground early on. We had rain yesterday so watering duty suspended.
                   
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                  • rosietutu

                    rosietutu Gardener

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                    Shiney, Could you please put up a rough drawing of your bean support as next year we are going to have to use another way other than bamboo canes they just do not hold the weight of a heavy crop. Thanks in advance.
                     
                  • Lea

                    Lea Super Gardener

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                    Yes, I'd be interested in this too. :)
                     
                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                    @rosietutu @Lea

                    On post 56 of this thread I've put some links up. The third link explains how I have made the ShineyFrame.

                    Re bamboo canes: you can get them of all different thicknesses and it's best to get them at least 14mm - 16mm thick. The measurement refers to the thick end of the cane and not the narrow end (that's how they're sold).

                    The other links are discussing beans and the fourth link has some more info, from Kristen, on different shapes for frames. :)
                     
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