Scarlet Runner Bean Problem

[boggybranch]

My scarlet runner bean vines look so health and have bloomed up a storm. The problem is...no beans developing. The "stalks" that the blooms form on are, actually, drying up and appear to be rotting off. I have kept them watered and have had loads of pollinators in the garden. I don't have a clue as to "what gives".

Like Rosanne Roseannadanna used to say...."It's always something".

 

[patandchickens]

I find that it often takes several weeks of flowering before they start to set fruit, for whatever reason. And they are not pollinated by as many things as most plants are -- as far as I can tell, hummingbirds are their best pollinators -- so even if you have lots of pollinators *in general* it is possible they are pollen-limited.

Also, they will not set fruit when the weather is too hot -- I forget anymore exactly what the numbers are, but IIRC night temps are particularly important.

Any of that sound plausible?

I find that runner beans are just kind of unpredictable. Some years a great crop, other years not so much. At the very least, you get purty flowers to look at

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[boggybranch]

I find that it often takes several weeks of flowering before they start to set fruit, for whatever reason. And they are not pollinated by as many things as most plants are -- as far as I can tell, hummingbirds are their best pollinators -- so even if you have lots of pollinators *in general* it is possible they are pollen-limited.

Also, they will not set fruit when the weather is too hot -- I forget anymore exactly what the numbers are, but IIRC night temps are particularly important.

Any of that sound plausible?

I find that runner beans are just kind of unpredictable. Some years a great crop, other years not so much. At the very least, you get purty flowers to look at

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Well...If heat affects production, then that's got to be it.....cause it's Africa hot, here, even at night.

 

[patandchickens]

Oh, I hadn't looked at your location , yes that is surely it. They really are not the best vegetable for the South (although they are still ornamental). There is a reason that their highest popularity is in *England*

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[hoodat]

The main reason for planting scarlet runner beans is their attractive flowers. The beans are just a bonus. As far as production goes they are an inferior variety but most certainly worth having because of their beauty. Bean flowers are largely self pollinating so I doubt pollination is your problem. If too much heat is the problem try planting Anasazi beans. They thrive on heat and give both edible pods and dry beans similar to pintos.

 

[patandchickens]

The main reason for planting scarlet runner beans is their attractive flowers. The beans are just a bonus.

That is only true in hot climates.

In England they are considered primarily a vegetable crop and various cultivars have been selected largely for eating/cropping qualities (not just flower color); and there are a lot of people in New England who consider them primarily a vegetable, too. (Like me ) The taste is much better than regular pole or bush beans.

Bean flowers are largely self pollinating so I doubt pollination is your problem.

Scarlet runner beans do not self-pollinate well, unlike most other beans. (edited to clarify: they are genetically self-compatible, but need a pollinator to 'trip' the flower to trigger actual pollen transfer or ovum development or however exactly it works, I forget)

If you don't believe me, see things like the following random few google returns:
www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-86.html
http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/runner-bean-moonlight-seeds-pid3636.html
http://www.garden-centre.org/Bean runner.htm

etc etc



Pat

 

[ducks4you]

Gosh--I hope mine do okay!

 

[ninnymary]

Well, I just pulled mine out. They were planted in a hugh pot with a bamboo pole teepee. I was alittle disappointed in them. The flowers were not as big or beautiful as I first thought. Also, the hummingbirds did not go crazy over them the way I thought they would.

We did harvest them a few times. I thought they would produce like crazy but they didn't. I was also not crazy about the taste. They were o.k. but I think I prefer regular green beans.

My weather is cool, about 67* during the day and 54* at night. They did take about 3 weeks before they produced beans. I have some more planted in another hugh pot. Those I've left for now.

Maybe I'll plant just one teepee's worth next year.

Mary