Runner beans not setting.

[Beryl]

One or two on the lottie are complaining their Runner Beans are not setting. It has been suggested it is because the night temperatures are not going low enough as they need a temperature of below 16 degrees. I've not heard this before but I do know they don't like it when it is very hot and prefer the cooler day time temperatures.
It has been very muggy and sticky here these last few nights so maybe they are right.

Any thoughts anyone?

Beryl.

[peter]

Runners are bee pollinated aren't they?

[The Mouse]

Same problem with my climbing Borlotti beans.
A few weeks ago, I put it down to the very high daytime temperatures, but they still aren't setting well despite cooler temperatures. We've had some hot sticky nights, but not continuously so I hadn't thought about the possibility of that affecting them!

Plenty of bees here - especially on my dahlias

[Monika]

I believe the runner beans like it a bit humid for setting so, perhaps, a sprinkling of water over the plants in the warm evenings might help?

Our runner beans (Moonlight) are doing ok , but the climbing French beans (Cobra) are not as good as last year when it was much cooler and wetter.

[Geoff]

Runners Moonlight and ordinary (Red Flame) are both setting well. We have a large population of bumble bees (that are not taking them from behind this year) and I water them at the base every morning even on showery days. The middle of the row doesn't seem to get much rain with all the leaves there are this year.
The Cobra are in the tunnel and have been setting very well, we are leaving them for beans now as we have had so many and we prefer the runners.

[Elaine]

We grow good old Enorma Runner beans and while they have set okay...pollination by bees has been good, there certainly aren't as many flowers/beans as other years...though that's not a bad thing. We're usually inundated with them and can't give them away. My problem being, I grow 12 seeds to get 8 plants but then can't throw away the extras, so I end up with far too many. Each season, I say that I'm only going to grow half a dozen plants and end up planting out the lot. **sigh**

[hilary]

Hi,
I am having the same problem - plenty of bees on the flowers but then just not setting. I did read somewhere that birds could be a problem especially sparrows. Others on the lottie seem to be ok And friends up the road have plenty of beans. I always grow White Lady because I thought they set best. Pinning my hopes on the French beans........

Hilary

[FelixLeiter]

Shortage of water is the main reason for runner beans not setting. Their requirements have, I am sure, been rather more difficult to meet this year than in most previous summers. They are very thirsty. High temperatures are not known to be a problem. They prosper and yield well in polytunnels where temperatures can be extreme.

Once runner beans have set a few pods, they stop producing more. It may be that there are maturing pods lurking amongst the foliage unnoticed. They can be difficult to spot.

[Beryl]

I think I have to agree with you Felix. although I do water; but with only 3 taps to 60 plots demand is high and it probably isn't enough. Plenty of bees about and yes I am always mindful to remove any that have got beany. It was the night temperatures that I wasn't sure about.

Put it down to another one of those years. Can't win 'em all can we.

Beryl.

[glallotments]

Our runner beans are late but we now have lots of immature beans that have set. Our problem has been with setting just that the beans were late flowering.

It's our first time with Cobra but we have picked quite a few. The purple and yellow French beans are now also producing well.

[Colin Miles]

For some reason my runners are doing the best I've every known. I'm feeding all the neighbours, yet I know that not too far away in Carmarthenshire there are also complaints about setting. The varieties are Firestorm and Enorma. Will go along to the allotments a couple of hundred yard away and see how they are doing.