Talkback: Growing runner beans

I've had an excellent crop of runner beans, some days picking far more than could be eaten so there's a store in the freezer now. I'm still picking alot but down to picking every other day now.

Interesting what you say about french beans, I tried four varieties this year for the first time and have been pleased with their crop, they're still going strong and knowing they do better in a hot summer means I'll be growing them again as mine have done well despite all the rain.

My freezer is full with runner beans and there is still more to pick. Its certainly been (ha ha) a good year fot them. Have no more than a handful of french beans but that maybe because i planted borlotti beans instead, my fault. The rain gave them a good start and saved my back but not trailng backwards and forwards to water tank at allotment. It will be lovely to be eating them all through the winter.

If you're going to use then within a few weeks just prepare them as you would for the table, then bag, excluding as much air as possible, and freeze in the sort of amounts you will use for each meal.

If you want them to keep well for more than a few weeks, then prepare as you would for the table, blanch in boiling water for 45 secs - 1 min, cool immediately in chilled water then drain and bag and freeze as above.

I freeze my beans by cutting them up as you would, then blanch them in boiling water and then rinse them in cold water, dry them off and then freeze in bags .I weigh them out enough for the 3 of us for one meal. Has always worked and its lovely to dish them up with the christmas dinner

Interesting chat about runner beans. I realise one can place them in the freezer without blanching, but would love to hear from anyone who does this, and also uses the blanching method. Do they find a marked difference in the texture and quality when they come to eat them?

I don't know about runner beans and freezing, but a friend swears by not blanching french beans; says that if he blanches them they become soggy.

I cut my beans and put them in freezer i dont blanch them. but i alllways put them in cold water to cook. they tast great .

As I said above, if I'm going to eat them within a few weeks I don't blanch.  If I want to keep them any longer than that I do blanch.  

If I'm preparing a large batch I'll do things properly and blanch them.  If its just one or two portions I don't - therefore I make sure I label them showing which method I've used and a use by date.

The blanched ones are a bit better in texture in my opinion, but my other half says he can't tell the difference.

Am I the only one who hasn't had a fresh home grown runner bean this year?  The runner and french beans were a complete disaster!  My other half blames the weather, too cold and not enough water!  "What here in sunny Devon".

If you have a crop to pick...

 I can't pick them quick enough before another bowl full's ready to be picked. There's more than enough frozen and the plants are still flowering. Noticed some beans yesterday hiding behind the leaves which have got a tab bit on the large size so have thrown in the towel to let them go to seed before I start looking like a bean.   

Havent tried putting beans in freezer without blanching them first. Will give it a go next year as they are all finished for this year. Im relying on me remembering to do it though. Out for lunch today so no bean eating today. My daughter starts her uni course on monday so its a wish you luck lunch really.

My Runner beans just keep on giving this year!  I really is a fantastic year for them! There must be 20+ flowers ready to open and set (although the production of beans will gradually reduce) so I should carry be able to on eating them this month I am planning to grow a green manure (hungarian grazing rye) but I just can't get to doing it yet due to the runners and courgettes! Have anything eles been successful this year?