Runner Beans

[Hollie the Wollie]

I visited my Grandad today. He used to to maintain four allotments and grow tonnes and tonnes of veg and fruit... he also won alot of prizes for his allotments. He is too old to keep them now but really pleased we are growing veg.

He gave me 8 Runner Bean plants that must be around 12" tall now. This is my veg patch:

The Radish and Lettuce to the left of the Peas (the big stuff) has now been taken up so there is a space, lets say maybe 30" wide where I could plant them.

Do you think this is wise? Should I plant somewhere else? Are containers any good for Runners? Any advice would be great! Thanks all x

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Hollie, the only problem with growing runner beans in the centre of your plot is the fact that they grow at least 6 foot high and will cast a shadow over your other vegetable plants. I would grow them across the back of the plot against the fence.

[Hollie the Wollie]

Oppsie, too late! I've gone and done it now and planted them to the left of the peas and in a trough. Ive used quite thick canes so I really hope they hold out!

I do hope they will be ok. My little veg patch is a bit too small for them.

[Newtothis]

Runner beans are really easy in containers too, we had them up next to a wall supported by a homemade cane frame as well as in a large tub. We just made a tripod with 3 6ft canes in the tub, and then planted one plant next to each cane, so three plants. It was a very pretty decorative thing to do too You just have to watch it as it's top heavy and can fall over if windy.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Hollie, your bean plants look just great. As NTT said the plants do get heavy when covered in beans so watch out for the windy weather and ensure that you have pushed the canes down to the bottom of the container for stability. Although runner beans are great climbers sometimes you have to give them a helping hand to climb the cane. I always wrap mine around the cane and use a bit of garden string to help hold them in place until they get going. Runner beans grow up the canes anti clockwise! (Just a little snippet!! )

[Hollie the Wollie]

Oh great this is so helpful - I feel a bit more positive about them now!

How funny that they grow anti-clockwise... I wonder why this is the case?! I hate Supermarket Runner Beans, they are always dry and stringy... I know fresh is best! Can't wait!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Hollie, It was thought that the Coriolis effect from the earths rotation caused climbing plants to grow in one direction in the northern hemisphere and the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. (Which they don't.) But research believes that it has something to do with the inherent left hand twist in the plants' basic molecules.

[Hollie the Wollie]

Runner bean progress:

[Hollie the Wollie]

Looooooooook!!!! The first teeny weeeny baby Runner Bean!!!

[Lesley Jay]

Looking very good Hollie!! It won't be long before your first meal of delicious home grown runners!!

Don't be tempted to pick runner beans straight from the plant and eat them raw as you wonder around the garden. They can be poisonous to some people. Raw that is!

[LynRuc]

how come you have a baby runner bean on such small plants!!! mine got really tall before I had any beans!!!

[LynRuc]

oops just realised you mean your older bean plants, not the new ones you just planted!

[Hollie the Wollie]

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

Looking very good Hollie!! It won't be long before your first meal of delicious home grown runners!!

Don't be tempted to pick runner beans straight from the plant and eat them raw as you wonder around the garden. They can be poisonous to some people. Raw that is!

Oh really!? I never knew that?! I wonder what it is in them that makes them poisonous?!

[Hollie the Wollie]

Originally Posted by LynRuc

how come you have a baby runner bean on such small plants!!! mine got really tall before I had any beans!!!

My plants are in containers and are around 5 1/2 ft tall, taller than me. Its only just that I had the baby bean come through this week. The runner plants were gifted to me at around 1ft tall and have been growing since June.

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by Hollie the Wollie

Oh really!? I never knew that?! I wonder what it is in them that makes them poisonous?!

Hi Hollie, it's lectins, also called phytohaemagglutinins, which are found in many types of beans. Runner beans and french beans shouldn't be eaten raw but not everyone is affected. A fellow allotment holder used to eat loads of my french beans raw, straight from the plant, when he came for a chat every day!