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Last year my harvest of runner beans was poor because of the really hot weather, but this year looks like being a bumper crop.

Runner beans are my favourite veg, but has to be picked early before they get too long or swell with beans, I've never found anything in the shops coming anywhere near the quality you can achieve in your garden.

And if you keep up the picking whilst small, they keep on producing, some years right into November.

These are grown in a raised bed climbing up canes slopped against an east facing fence.



Developing bean pods.



First crop, no strings guaranteed.

micro irrigation or "splash it all over" !?

Mr Gus wrote: ↑Sat Aug 12, 2023 3:02 pm micro irrigation or "splash it all over" !?

"splash it all over", I either use a hosepipe or watering can from my underground river source, but its been so wet here, I think it was June when I last watered them.

That surprises me Nowty, i'd have thought you'd be one for the measured approach regardless of source, there's a lot to be said for root drip irrigation in terms of saving resources.

There are solar timers nowadays too if you really want to take it to the max (though eliminates benefit of cool night time watering that minimises evaporation)

Mr Gus wrote: ↑Sat Aug 12, 2023 3:12 pm That surprises me Nowty, i'd have thought you'd be one for the measured approach regardless of source, there's a lot to be said for root drip irrigation in terms of saving resources.

I have had the thought (micro irrigation) in my head for a number of years, and have looked at two different options, porous soaker hoses vs drip systems. Cant quite work out which one to go for, I came very close earlier in the year to buying a cheap drip kit off Amazon to have a play with but didn't quite push the button.

Its a bit late in the year to bother now so maybe one for next year.

I do have a quite handy hosepipe timer so it switches off in case I forget, or could be used with either a soaker hose or a drip system.

I've always been a fan of moveable drip systems, with sodding clay here I can see anything not easily removable turning to drippy, oozing, clogging putty, whereas periodically dropping a bunch of micro heads into some white vinegar, good to go & visibly see them being active, removing all doubt.

Runner beans on stream at full capacity here too .......... my fave veg .
Always mulch between a double row with anything to keep moisture in -beans love "wet" feet. Use shredded pruning's /veg waste/ shredded paper/cardboard.
Always sow variety Enorma -long pods .........
George