The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: BML on July 12, 2011, 06:10:24 pm

Title: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: BML on July 12, 2011, 06:10:24 pm
I planed a few Runner Beans in the Greenhouse and they grew rapidly.  The only problem was that they have hardly produced any runner beans.  I would welcom any comments as to why.
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Greenerlife on July 12, 2011, 06:33:31 pm
Curious to know why you planted them in a greenhouse?  I think it is too hot in a greenhouse (even at night) for runners to set "fruit".  They are used to hardier climes.
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 12, 2011, 06:54:08 pm
they dont like it hot.
french beanswould have loved it tho.
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: BML on July 12, 2011, 07:49:27 pm
Many years ago I read a book by Upton Sinclare and he told a story about a railway shunter with a foot missing.  When he was asked how he lost it replied.  “A wagon appeared to be rolling past a set of points where it should have stopped so I stuck my foot under the wheel to stop and it cut it off”.  “Why did you do that?” he was asked and he replied, “Well, it seemed a good idea at the time”. 
The good idea at the time concept was the only basis behind my trying to grow the Runner Beans in the Green House.  I had never grown vegetables before and I knew that I was taking a chance when I put the Runner Bean seeds in the green house very early.  When they were about a foot tall I planted them outside where they are now begining to show a few runner beans but I kept a few to grow in the green house.  Needless to say, I now know that it doesn’t work.
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: little blue on July 12, 2011, 08:05:42 pm
they are insect polllinated, usually by bees ... how many bumbley-bees have you seen in your greenhouse?!
that & the heat & dryness will account for the lack of beans.

live & learn as they say (or pollinate with a paintbrush!)
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: BML on July 12, 2011, 08:23:05 pm
I TAKE YOUR POINT BUT WHAT ABOUT TOMATOES?
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: little blue on July 12, 2011, 10:03:48 pm
vibration pollination :D

even shaking the tom vine can encourage pollen transfer, whereas bean flowers are shaped differently, needing mrs bee.

I know when I pass & water the toms, they get a little shaken.

And tomatoes tend to get more water, feed & like warmer temperatures....
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Plantoid on July 12, 2011, 10:06:40 pm
they are insect polllinated, usually by bees ... how many bumbley-bees have you seen in your greenhouse?!
that & the heat & dryness will account for the lack of beans.

live & learn as they say (or pollinate with a paintbrush!)

 You can set runner beans with a very fine rose  spray on a hose pipe I'vre done it many times when the late bean flowers really took off and the temps dropped to 50 oF.( bees stop flying in any numbers ) .
Old Mr Digwell  gave me that one years ago ,  so it's back to growing in the green house unless you have trashed them .  If you have auto roof vents like I have insects geting in are no problem but for a precaution I have a rabbits tail on a bit of cane to pollinate  the tomatoes , capsicums, strawberries and aubergines etc. just incase there are a few  areas missed .
 I charged it with pollen from two big bunches of supermarket flowers I purchased for my lass and also gave every weed flower  in the front garden a wee wipe with it before I zapped them with a hefty dose of round up.
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Millwood on July 13, 2011, 07:57:39 am
I've got french beans romping and fruiting away in the polytunnels this year, so no reason why not, pollination must be the key, we handily have a bumble bee nest in the poly!
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Skirza on July 13, 2011, 08:20:06 am
we have runner beans in our polytunnel simply because it's too blooming windy and cold up here to grow them outside. I also have a problem with non setting flowers but I am off to flick a kiddies paintbrush around with gay abandon while wearing a black and yellow jumper and saying, ' Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz'  ;D
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 13, 2011, 09:19:03 am
photo? ;D
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Skirza on July 13, 2011, 09:44:07 am
ROFL....maybe  ;)
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 13, 2011, 05:24:32 pm
u damn tease ::)
Title: Re: Runner Beans in a Greenhouse?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 17, 2011, 11:52:17 am
[quote author=Plantoid.   
 I have a rabbits tail on a bit of cane to pollinate  the tomatoes , capsicums, strawberries and aubergines etc. just incase there are a few  areas missed .
 I charged it with pollen from two big bunches of supermarket flowers I purchased for my lass and also gave every weed flower  in the front garden a wee wipe with it before I zapped them with a hefty dose of round up.
[/quote]

No need to wipe it over flowers of other species as pollen is very specific - tomatoes to tomatoes, squashes to squashes etc