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Runner beans

I've noticed this year that very few of my runner bean flowers are setting.  There is very little evidence of bees or hoverflies this year.  Is there anything I can do to improve the set rate apart from getting a bee hive?

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Posts

  • AirwavesAirwaves Posts: 82

    I'm not growing any at present, but used to water at mid -day. The gentle watering caused the pollen to move and set. It certainly  worked.Another tip is to grow the beans with a few sweet pea plants this should encourage more bees and hoverflys.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Same here!
    Grown runners for many years, never had such a poor fruit set as this year.
    Good idea about growing some sweet peas amongst the runners - will do that next year.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • MuddyForkMuddyFork Posts: 435

    Thanks, I'll try the watering idea.

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,846

    My runners are looking very good with pods developing well I hear that misting the flowers with water helps them to set I haven't resorted to that myself as the plants seem to be thriving.

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,012

    I'm not growing this year, but my neighbour was complaining yesterday of the very poor set and very few flowers this year.

  • Annie2810Annie2810 Posts: 30

    It's not just me then! Loads of flowers (and black fly, but that's a different story!), but not much setting.

  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    Only other thing I can think of Pansy is to give them an organic liquid feed, I'm not saying they aren't in a rich bed just thought it can't hurt the lazy things. You could swear at them imageimage

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I read/heard recently that with all the wet weather earlier this year many nutrients may well have been washed out of the soil.
    My beans were looking a bit pale a few weeks ago so gave them a dose of phostrogen and they soon greened-up.

    Trying White Lady this year and picked the 1st beans yesterday - delish!
    Not a cloud in the sky today and already 22°, so better get the watering done.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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