Another pole bean question

[MontyJ]

My Winterfare beans for the Easy Bean Network are putting out runners. They are climbing the trellis like mad and some are nearly 4 feet tall already. I do see many small leaflets and buds along the way but the only fully developed leaves are at the base of the plants. Is this normal growth? My gut is telling me that it is, but since these are for the newtwork, I want to be sure. I've never grown pole beans before, so this is a learning experience for me. The Tobacco Patch are doing great.

 

[baymule]

MontyJ, the Kilham Goose beans vines did the same. They were on the list as a bush bean, but they took off, waving around, so I made them a trellis. Maybe Marshall or Russ will answer this and give us the benefit of their expertise.

 

[897tgigvib]

You'll have to ask Russ about Winterfare's growth pattern. I have never grown that variety, but from what you say, seems like they are alright Monty.

You know how to grow bush beans, so I'm sure you are doing things right, and you're pretty good at knowing real disease problems when you see them. Do you suspect any disease or bugs? Winterfare was listed as a pole, but even pole beans have different grow patterns for different varieties.

You should see the growth pattern of my bean varieties from the canyons of the south part of the sierra madre. They grew real fast until a month before summer solstice and then steadily slowed down with shorter internodes. In another month they will take off again as the days shorten, and after that they will go into full bloom. Those varieties down there are grown during the winter. I don't think that is what's going on with Winterfare though.

Ask Russ, he'll probably know.