GET THOSE LATE RUNNERS IN!
Hints and tips for successful planting
RUNNER beans are usually planted out in early June (AG’s Bob Flowerdew and Lucy Chamberlain were quick off the mark) but mine are still in pots in the greenhouse, reaching for the sky!
It’s okay to be a few weeks behind, as it means I’ll be able to harvest beans later in the season. But it’s vital to get plants in the ground now, so they have enough time to develop and crop.
It may be warm, but young plants will still need to be acclimatised to outdoor conditions before being planted in their final growing positions.
Choose a sheltered spot with well- drained soil where shade cast by these tall climbers won’t cause problems for other veg growing nearby.
Earlier in the season, I worked-in well-rotted manure, as runners like rich, deep soil. Two weeks before planting I gave nutrient levels a boost by raking in a sprinkling of Growmore.
As plants climb, watch out for blackfly, which quickly infest stems in July and August. I blast them off with a hosepipe, or use an organic bug spray.
When plants reach the tops of their supports, pinch out the growing points (tops). Quickly remove weeds, too, as they’ll compete with beans for soil moisture and nutrients. Runner beans taste best when harvested young, so I pick every few days in summer. This stops beans from becoming stringy, and keeps more coming.