runner beans

I forgot to save some Lazy Wife beans for planting so I've just ordered some to plant soon. Our late winter planting has to be put off because we are still getting frosty mornings - it's been freezing at night and 21 degrees c during the day for weeks and weeks. Typical Queensland winter weather, but usually easing by now. Somebody else is getting our warmth. Sometimes I think we are turning temperate from sub-tropical.

I've just noticed today there are lots of beans coming HURRAH!! at last, I had seen hardly any bees so thought we weren't going to get any but its looking good now I could eat a plateful of fresh runner beans all on their own... much later than usual though have just 2 tomatoes so far but quite a few more trusses with flowers, my Autumn fruiting raspberries look like they are going to fruit well and I picked a potful of wild blackberries today , my little granddaughter ate some with her lunch.. she said they're a bit soar Nanny but that's ok I like soar.

Gave up on runner beans as they all came at once - generally while we were away, so we ended up with tough, stringy beans. I now grow climbing French beans which seem to have a longer cropping period and are really tasty. They don't get soil splashed or slug nibbled either like the short ones and some have really pretty flowers too. I like the idea of inter planting with sweet peas.

I live in the sub tropics and have had success with 'Lazy Wife beans', They are quick to grow and quick to prepare - few strings.

I got my first lot from 'Eden Seeds' a local open pollinated non GM seed supplier, then I just save a few for planting next time. I'm sure they have such seed suppliers in the UK and Europe.

As for tomatoes - there's some disease that is endemic to this area and I get poor crops. After the fruit sets, leaves go yellow and start to die. Not good. Self seeding cherry tomatoes do the best - they produce a reasonable crop before succumbing.

In my two week absence, my three tomato plants have trebled in height and put on a lot of greenery. Can't see many flowers though.

Lots of flowers at the moment though on the beans! No raspberries!

I have just thrown all DH (his say so) tomotoes out....plenty of flowers but not one tom...had 3 beef toms. 2 basket, and about 6 upright bush..plenty of flowers but the flowers were just dropping off and not making fruit..all were kept in greenhouse so he lost the enthusiasm and wanted them throwing....we have had good crop of peas though, but poor dwarf beans,, and the runner beans are only jjust flowering in sunny Lancashire.. the begonias are doing brill though!

We were only talking about runner beans yesterday how there don"t seem to be that many about, came to conclusion that with wet weather earlier in year , didn"t set . I like this time of year with all gorgeous veg. about , love stuffed marrow served with beans. YUM , YUM [FLAG]

Since my last post, I have picked about nine beans! They were absolutely delicious but I'm glad the rest of the crop is not all that is standing between me and starvation!

Mine have actually improved enough (since the sun came out) so I have had a few beans to EAT!
I have now planted the new lot in between the others where the canes look a but bare. Don't know if they will do anything or not.

Tomatoes beginning in the greenhouse.
Cucumbers succumbed to wilt, but I have four new plants in the side passage and so far they are fine.
Also two melon plants, but they may be far too late!

I have managed to get my beans up the poles and they have flowered, but the flowers are dropping before any beans have set. The bees don't seem to be taking any notice of them. I think it must be the wet weather - I've never had a problem before. Tomatoes will be very late this year, but at least they are flowering. The only thing that is thriving is the flipping grass!

My tomatoes are doing ok, but I keep them inside since I lost a crop to blight.

My tomatoes are useless! My beans are going backwards I have some mange tout and a courgette flower. A few raspberries.

I have now put some more in pots - encouraged by my gardening mag which came yesterday - says it's not too late, put cloches over them ie plastic water containers with the bottoms off - pushed in to keep out slugs - tops off, until they are big enough to remove the bottles.
But I am keeping mine in the side passage of the house (plastic roof) for now instead of planting seeds straight out. It's warmer.

Mine are, come to think of it, still in the packet. Oh well, next year....

Mine are barely started climbing up the poles , I think I was picking beans in mid-july last year... also my tomatoes are barely flowerin.

Mine are struggling to get up their poles too Allie. Can't be lack of water!!!

Anyone having trouble with their runners? Mine are planted out but don't seem to be getting going at all - is it the weather? My sister says hers are the same, she has planted some more and they are bigger!

Gary the Gardner grows them at the bottom of my garden, angel next door picks them and distributes them among the neighbours!
Me? I don't eat green :- it's poison!

We called them 'has beans' when they got stringy

Boil with garlic, drain, chop into small pieces, serve with a vinaigrette dressing!

Maniac No apology necessary - all good advise. Thank you.

Sorry about repeat,-got interrupted!

Grown runner beans successfully even in a tiny garden.last year grew in a large potato growbag.On advice of a friend I interplanted with sweet peas -works well as they support each other and I'm told sweet peas attract pollinating insects-and smell divine.
However realised at end of a bumper crop that I don't actually like them .good when freshly picked but after freezing seem tasteless
just provide green fibre.Any suggestions?

Grown runner beans successfully even ina my tiny garden.last yearI grew in a large potato growbag.On advice of a friend I interplanted with sweet peas -works well as they support each other and I'm told sweet peas attract pollinating insects-and smell divine.
However realised at end of a bumper crop that I don't actually like them .good when freshly picked but after freezing seem tasteless
just provide green fibre.Any suggestions?