A Bumper Harvest of Runner Beans

We are currently enjoying the results of Jim's labours on the runner bean patch.

Every year he plants the seeds on May 26th, a special birthday, which he always remembers and carefully tends the seedlings until they are able to grow up the poles. It can be like running the gambit because slugs and snails are often abundant in a wet Spring and they will gobble up any fresh shoot that pokes its head above the soil. Jim uses slug pellets. It's the only way, we find. I think the birds have realised the pellets are not for them because they leave well alone.

Yum!

Happy gardening!

Runner Beans are climbing the poles

After a slow start and a fight to keep the slugs at bay, the beans are finally going up the poles. It won't be long before we get to eat these delicious vegetables.

Runner beans give a good return for the small space occupied and can be grown in any type of soil so long as they receive an adequate amount of water.

The beans should be sown at the end of May in drills 6 inches wide, each to take two staggered rows of seed, 6 inches apart.

You won't need to apply any heavy manure before sowing, but the soil would benefit from some sulphate of potash. Apply as shown on the container.

The beans need to be staked with poles, usually of bamboo, 6 ft. tall with a gap of 18 inches between them.

When the beans are cropped, you can look forward to many nutritious meals.