Runner beans not setting

I always found runner beans to be a glut or famine crop, not a nice steady supply.
But i guess that depends, if you have lots of people to feed it's a different matter.

 

Picked the first beans today for evening dinner not many so mix with some from last year

 

Pollen is more viable in the morning before the sun shines on it with Daylily's / Hemerocallis if I am crossing plants I have to use the pollen early in the morning as late afternoon the pollen is dead as such ...

 

Makes sense, day lilies being a new flower every day.

 

I spend each morning checking the back of the leaves for Blackfly, now looking at the stems. Not seen one Ladybird yet.

 

My broad beans came close to nearly being destroyed by blackfly.

 

Both early (april) sowing and may batch have now exceeded the sticks by 3 feet. Some beans in the top 4 feet of growth have been enjoyed but although heathy looking, they have ceased flowering due to the drought conditions. water butts empty and hosepipe ban imminent. If I share my bathwater with them, can anybody suggest means of kick starting , by pruning or feeding , so that they burst back into bloom? Surely there could be 8 weeks or so left in the bean season yet?

 

Planted some late beans on Aug 5 and been picking for a few days

 

That's a good idea @Jiffy something to remember, they do grow fast when happy.

 

clever you