Who’s Eating my Beans Again?
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<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/flowers/vegetables-herbs/growing-runner-beans-in-a-dry-summer/">Click here to read the article in full</a> <p><a title="Runner beans" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/4776834310/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4776834310_aca49debb7.jpg" alt="031" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Great <a title="Runner Beans" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/runner-beans/">Runner Beans</a> need plenty of water retentative and nutrient rich soil. That is why preparation is important but here are some more tips to rescue this years crop.</p> <p><strong>Preparing Runner Bean Bed</strong></p> <ul> <li> Help the soil to retain moisture by incorporating manure, well rotted <a title="compost" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/compost/">compost</a> and wet newspaper at the bottom of a deep 12″ trench in winter.</li> <li>Maintain humus rich soil around and above the trench with more compost.</li> <li>Rotate crops to a new patch every year on a three or four year cycle.</li> <li>Use a 2-3″ deep mulch that is open enough to take water down to the roots. Bark chippings may suit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Plant Out Runner Beans</strong></p> <ul> <li>Start off your beans in pots with a deep root run or in open ground.</li> <li>Do not feed with heavy nitrogen fertilisers or you will get leaf and less flower.</li> <li>Support each plant with a cane in a wigwam shape.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Growing On</strong></p> <ul> <li> Flowers pollinate best if the air is humid so mist over during a dry spell. I use a ‘Sprayer’ with clean water.<span id="more-8076"></span></li> <li>Water plants well and regularly once they flower or your beans will be stunted and curved. A heavy watering twice a week is better than an dribble or light drop every day.</li> <li>Use a sprinkler or hose pipe if you are able. Grey water from baths and showers is OK if you have a watering ban.</li> <li>Harvest when beans are still young and have a snap in them. The more you pick the more they flower.</li> </ul> <p><a title="Runner Bean Painted Lady " href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/4789051985/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4789051985_d8ffd841d9.jpg" alt="Runner Bean Painted Lady" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><strong>Beans for Dryer Conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li>Select some of the European beans that are more resistant to dry conditions.</li> <li>‘Algarve’ is a fast-growing climbing French variety with flat pods</li> <li>‘Lingua di Fuoco’ is a climbing <a title="borlotti" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/borlotti/">borlotti</a> bean with speckled seeds and showy pods</li> <li>The bean above is Painted Lady which has showy flowers but needs the right conditions to excel.</li> </ul> <p>If you want to enter your beans for a local show read<a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/tips/runner-bean-scarlet-emperor/"> tips</a>.</p> <p>RHS advice on getting <a href="http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=381">runners to set pods</a> is available here.</p> <div style="display: none">VN:F [1.6.3_896]</div><div class="ratingblock"><div class="ratingblock "><div class="ratingheader ">Rate this Article</div><div class="ratingstars "><div id="article_rater_51734" class="ratepost gdsr-soft gdsr-size-24"><div class="starsbar gdsr-size-24"><div class="gdouter gdheight"><div id="gdr_vote_a51734" style="width: 0px;" class="gdinner gdheight"></div><div id="gdr_stars_a51734" class="gdsr_rating_as"><a id="gdsrX51734X5X0XaXarticle_rater_51734Xarticle_loader_51734X10X24" title="5 / 5" class="s5" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX51734X4X0XaXarticle_rater_51734Xarticle_loader_51734X10X24" title="4 / 5" class="s4" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX51734X3X0XaXarticle_rater_51734Xarticle_loader_51734X10X24" title="3 / 5" class="s3" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX51734X2X0XaXarticle_rater_51734Xarticle_loader_51734X10X24" title="2 / 5" class="s2" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX51734X1X0XaXarticle_rater_51734Xarticle_loader_51734X10X24" title="1 / 5" class="s1" rel="nofollow"></a></div></div></div></div><div id="article_loader_51734" style="display: none; width: 120px; " class="ratingloader article"><div class="loader flower " style="height: 24px"><div class="loaderinner" style="padding-top: 2px">please wait...</div></div></div></div><div class="ratingtext "><div id="gdr_text_a51734">Rating: 0.0/<strong>5</strong> (0 votes cast)</div></div></div></div>
