I am a novice but my container grown runners are looking fine and flowering well. However, the plants are shedding a lot of flowers before they are set and this is restricting the crop. I water them religiously and they are in a fairly sheltered spot. The only thing I can think of is that the long container is only about 10 inches deep. Any ideas or advice?

Hi Dave
I’ve sought advice on your bean problem and the oracle of all things bean (my Dad) tells me what you need to do is spray the leaves and flowers with water, preferably in an evening when the suns not as strong.
Although you’re keeping the plants watered, it’s likely the leaves are drying so use a fine mist sprayer to damp everything off. Apparently, years ago, gardeners would have used a sugar solution to keep the leaves damp, but you should be OK with just water.
And, although 10” isn’t very deep for growing beans, as long as you’re keeping them watered (which you are) and well fertilised – using a general fertiliser, like Miracle Grow - this shouldn’t be causing you a problem.
Hope this helps ... good luck!

any ideas as to why my bean flowers (scarlet emperor)are dropping off and there is nothing growing there?.....

This is first year our crop of runner beans started off growing straight and now are curling into half moons...anyone got a reason why they are doing this. They are fed and well watered as normal.

OK ... so although the flowers are appearing, these aren’t setting so no beans ... There’s really one reason this could be happening ... and it’s all to do with watering ... and if you live in the UK this scorching hot weather won’t be helping matters!

Beans need to be kept moist and well fertilised. I don’t know what type of soil your plants are growing in, but if it’s sandy soil keeping them moist will be all the more difficult.

If possible apply a mulch to help retain the moisture in the soil, water in the evening when the sun isn’t as strong, and use a fine sprayer (like Gardena’s Hand Sprayer which produces a fine mist of water) to apply a fine spray of water over the leaves and flowers of the plants.

Another way of helping your beans to make the most of the water your providing is to water them using a seep hose ... this lets your plants receive the water close to their roots (beans are fairly shallow rooting plants) and presents the water at a slow, constant pace rather than a sudden deluge!

I hope this helps ... and don’t worry you aren’t alone with this problem ... lack of water and hot temperatures are making if difficult for many allotment holders.

Its interesting what you've said about the shallow roots of runner beans and watering with a sudden deludge. We have a hose ban (even seep hoses are banned!!) and although we are suppling enough water towards the end of the day, I'm sure its not very efficient as most of the water must pass the roots without being absorbed. Besides adding compost and manure are there any other ideas??

Also is there any reason for not removing some of the leaves to prevent water evaporation??

Thank you, Maureen.

I'm growing runner beans for the first time, in very large pots on the patio. The crop is developing heavier than I expected, but there is a problem with the first few handfuls of beans I've harvested. There is a tough membrane-like layer inside the pods that is quite inedible. Have they had too much sun, am I picking them too early or too late?

My beans too are curling into half moon shapes, I do try and water as often as I can, is there another underlying problem causing them to curl so much.

Regards to all

Steve.

Something is attacking the leaves of my bean plants, thought it was snails but now I'm not sure, having pelleted and found a few dead ones. Short of CCTV around the plants I'm not sure what else to do.
Any advice?
Thanks
Hugh

browning of leaves, not sure what problem is. any advice. steve

we have sown 2 rows of runne beand in a new raised bed this year, we have noticed many of the flowers are dropping off, there appears to be no reason....any suggestions? many thanks bob

Hi Dave
It can be hard to say why the flowers are dropping off, as this usually happens when the weather is very hot / dry ... which, if you'll not be experiencing if you're based in England.
However, to help prevent this continuing, try spraying the flowers with sugery water - this is an old fashioned remedy but should help to 'set' the flowers ..
Hope it helps!

Hi,
I've got some runner beans growing in a pot but i've got problems with not only the flowers dropping of but a lot of the lower leaves are turning yellow. The leaves on the rest of the plant are not a dark green as you would associate with runnner beans but more a lime green. The pot has good drainage holes so i don't think they are being over watered. Any thoughts

My runner beans are covered in little black fly(aphids), what can I do without using chemicals?

Hi Nicola
I hope my advice doesn't come too late and the little black beggars have done for your plants! But in the hope that this isn't the case, I've a couple of old fashioned, chemical free suggestions ...
You can try using soapy water to spray the plants with ... this can clear off the aphids ...
Or, another remedy is to boil nettles and use this concentrated 'nettle juice' as a natural pest deterrent ... simply dilute with and spray your plants ... again this should clear off the aphids!

Hi Allan
It could be that your runner beans are suffering from lack of nutrients ...
With pot grown plants it can be difficult to ensure you keep them well fed ... but this is as important as keeping them well watered! I'd suggest feeding them and this should improve the situation ...
Good Luck!

For the first time in fifteen years, our runner beans are a disaster. We usually get them going in small pots in the greenhouse and then plant them out after acclimatising them outside....but this year, within a few days of going directly into the garden, the leaves had all been munched, leaving just stalks; and the others have struggled to grow. Many leaves are yellow-green and the stems hardly have the strength to climb the sticks. They've had "food" and plenty of water courtesy of the recent deluges, but this is the worst I've ever seen them. Wonder whether all the rain has washed away the nutrient in the soil.

My runner beans seem to have stopped flowering.. over the last month i have had lots of beans but it now seems to be coming to an end already. Is there any reason for this? i have been watering daily and feeding a nitrogen based plant feeder.

Hi
I dont usually have a problem growing runner beans but this year the white flowers turn yellow then seem to just drop off leaving nothing behind, can you tell me why?

thanks wendy

I have the same problem as some of the growers above, in that I've got healthy looking plants but the beans themselves, whilst prolific, are emaciated and curved. I water twice a day, the weather is good (I'm in Singapore). Could this be something to do with growing in pots and having too many plants per trough? If so, should I cull some of the weaker plants to let the others flourish?

Hi can anyone help please, every year my beans start well, good crops then suddenly my young beans turn yellow and shrivelled they are watered very well, any comments appreciated, thanks lee cox

Hi I am growing runner beans in a large deep pot on the patio. They are in good compost, with plenty of water and drainage is good too. Over the past week although the plants are climbing up ok, many of the lower leaves are going 'papery'white, and shrivelled. I can see no sign of 'pests'.
Any sugestions as to what is wrong? it has not happened other years.

Our runner beans are doing well in the pot on the patio apart from some lower leaves turning yellow. They are being eaten and today we have found two beetle like bugs grey and black in colour. Any ideas on how to keep them at bay.

i have the same problem as a few other people the beans are prolific but are curling and miss shapen

Runner beans are shrivelling on plant before reaching maturity we are watering well and feeding but cannot understand why?

I am growing runner beans for the first time. I have grown them from seed. I recently put them into my garden and have notice that some of the leaves are being eaten. I have looked for slugs and aything that is obvious. Do you have any ideas?

as you seem to be a bit of an expert can you tell me if it is true that beans only ever wind upward anti clockwise? An old gardner of mine once advised me to plant accordingly so that it could have a good start, however in recent discussions no-one seems to believe me.
many thanks
Suzie

I have a problem with snails and slugs don't like slug pellets any other solution

we are growing runner bean for the first time, we are right on the beach on the south coast. The bean are planted in a large round container at first the veg plants looked good , about a week ago some showed signs of discolour all now are showing the same. All have been watered each day the compost was old compost in the container. could it be old compost or the fact the salt content of the air and the constant wind

Can you tell me what the black bettles are inside my runner bean flowers and are they the reason the beans are not setting (I only have 2 beans but thousands of flowers) or are the bettles harmless? I water the beans everyday and spray the plants with water every night
Thanks Anne