Runner bean flowers

[Sueh]

Got home tonight to find something has been eating my runner bean flowers and I finaly had lots. I have had such trouble getting to this stage. Any suggestions on preventative measures? The birds seem to be having a hayday at the moment digging up my lettuce so would it be the birds?
Any help or ideas please
Sue

[jeny]

I've got the same problem but birds dont come in my yard so it cant be that.

Flowers been taken off at the stalk. I'm thinking, slugs, snails and earwigs *shrugs*

[stupo74]

Hi Both,
Runner been flowers are very attractive to the birds, Pigeons are my worst enemy here.
However, since i changed to the "White" varieties, they dont seem to bother as much.

I would not think it is slugs (they usually "munch" at night) but possible that like Jeny mentioned, earwigs etc could be to blame.

Take the day off today sue and stand watch over your "precious crops" you will soon find the culprit.
cheers stupo

[jeny]

I watered the plants one morning recently and came back to slimage everywhere, b*ggers had taken advantage of the damp in the daytime!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Sue and Jeny, as Paul said the birds are devils at eating runner bean flowers especially the red flowered varieties. One white flowered variety that you could try is White Lady. Can you rig up something to scare the birds like old CD's hanging on string or lengths of foil tied to string that will flutter in the wind or those colourful 'windmills' that you can buy for the kids.

[Sueh]

Thanks again. I am growing White Lady which I love and so do the birds. I have been in my office most part of the day and have not seen anything attacking.

Anyhow Tesco's tommorrow and I will be buying windmills and bunting etc. Thought I had it cracked as my daughter had made a Scarecrow for my grandaughter but they have binned it.

Will let you know how I get on.

Thanks
Sue

[Digindeep]

Old CD's do the trick...hung from strings...tend to use the freebies we get from newspapers ect....cheap and cheerfull....

[jeny]

Like I say, birds dont come in my yard

[LynRuc]

I have the trouble also of having no beans growing where the flowers were. I have discovered that this may be due to the flowers dropping off because of the unusually hot weather, or because the flowers haven't been pollinated. Its very dissapointing as I only have a few beans on there and lots of empty spaces!