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30/12/2007, 13:57 Berlioz Joined on 09/09/2005 SW France Posts 142 Alternative for Runner Beans? Has anyone found a Dwarf or climbing French Bean that is similar in taste/texture to a stringless runner bean?  I have grown them for years in Uk without problems. I had heard they don't grow well here (I'm W of Toulouse) but tried anyway.  There seem to be hundreds of varieties of beans to choose from in France. This year I grew Blue Lake, Ferari and Masterpeice without problems but none were anything like runners. My runners (Lady Di, Mergoles, White Embargo) failed to set well despite being planted in compost trenches, watering & sweet peas grown alongside.  I didn't see may bees either so guess that pollination was a problem too!      Report

30/12/2007, 14:44 Tony F Dordogne Joined on 10/04/2005 Small village in the Dordogne, near St Cyprien Posts 1,483 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? Try a type called Painted Lady, sets orange/red flowers and is also called Spanish beans for some reason. I bought some last year to grow as an ornamental but had loads and loads of beans from them. Tony F Dordogne (24) Huguenot Trails    Report

03/01/2008, 11:15 Berlioz Joined on 09/09/2005 SW France Posts 142 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? Thankyou Tony I have added some to my seed order. I will let you know how I get on! B    Report

03/01/2008, 12:04 Meg Joined on 17/02/2006 Charente Posts 1,924 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? I tried runner beans (Butler) the first year here, without much success. I think they don't like the heat. Last year i grew pole beans 'Neckarkonigin'. Which were very productive, stringless, tasted good and froze well. This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered as flaws or defects.    Report

03/01/2008, 12:16 andyh4 Joined on 15/06/2005 Frankfurt and Ardèche Posts 892 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? Runner Beans don't seem to like the heat and often set badly, but you can imrpove the chances of a good set by misting the flowers in the late evening with a fine spray.  Doing this we have achieved acceptable, but not good cropping levels. Andy    Report

04/01/2008, 15:20 Berlioz Joined on 09/09/2005 SW France Posts 142 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? Andy, I did mist the flowers but it didn't make much difference.   The only one that was any good was a 'wild' Mergoles growing through a tomato on the ground, I'll use up the old seed as 'pinched out' dwarfs and see if that helps! I shall also order some Neckarkonigin from the Graines & Baumaux catalogue which has just arrived, the do look good, thanks for the tip Meg.    Report

11/04/2008, 7:23 Washy Joined on 23/08/2004 Corbieres, Aude (11) Posts 332 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? Hi there.  I grew a french purple bean for the first time here. Beautiful bi colour, pale and dark purple flowers and purple-black pods. Nothing like the shape of an english runner but the taste was exactly like the first soft sweet runner beans of the season.  Incidentally they go green on cooking which fascinates and children who see you pick themand putthem in boiling water.  Sorry forgotten the name as I collected seed for this year but I see them everywhere in the garden centres.    Report

11/04/2008, 9:30 dawks in gorre Joined on 21/03/2008 Posts 9 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? the first year i moved to france got her the end of june did not plant my runners until early july (type lady di),had a wonderful crop the next year planted then the normal time in may hardly a bean, now i always plant them end of june early july the same for my swedes and get a great crop, just try saving some to plant later and compare the results. clive    Report

11/04/2008, 9:45 Berlioz Joined on 09/09/2005 SW France Posts 142 Re: Alternative for Runner Beans? I will try normal time/planting later on as suggested and see what happens.    Report

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France Forum » Leisure and Pas... » Gardening » Alternative for Runner Beans?

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