Cube mk2 and WIR

[Popcorn]

I've managed to grow, for the very first time, some runner beans in the back garden this year. The flowers were white, as opposed to red. Every other person I know has grown the red flower variety.

 

We've been eating our beans now for the past month, and I'm getting to know the right picking time. The first few were a bit tough and stringy.

 

Is the stringyness down to the variety I grew - the white flowered sort, and what's the difference between that and the red?

 

Can anyone recommend a nice bean to grow for next year?

 

Also - if you read this Superkate - how did your nectarines do this year?

[Neil & Sal]

Gina

 

In my experience, the type of bean "stringiness" does come down to the type you grow. Some are known for sweetness, or stringiness, or tougher skins, or more pronounced beans, etc.

 

I can't say what sort would be best for you cos I don't grow runners myself, I do Green Beans and Broad Beans rather than the runners.

 

I'm sure someone on here will be able to recommend something.

 

Happy growing.

[Lesley]

Nothing to do with the flowers Gina - just the type of bean.

 

Start looking through the veg seed catalogues in the next few months and choose what you want from a bean. There are a lot of 'stringless' ones around.

 

We grow Enorma which does have red flowers and 'strings' but I use a wonderful little bean slicer from Lakeland which costs less than £2. The trick is not to let the beans grow too big.

 

The other bean we grow, which is stringless, is Markant, a climbing french bean. It looks bumpy and strange but is so tender and tasty and doesn't need any de-stringing.

[SarahJo]

I've just picked another pile of Runner Beans ... pics in mushroom album. The flowers are generally red, but you can get "pretty" varieties which can have a mix of cream, pink, and white flowers. As Lesley said, pick before they go too dark and big ... I use a potato peeler to take off the sides .. then slice, and cook still with a bite to them ..... DELICIOUS.

[Mrs Frugal]

Also - if you read this Superkate - how did your nectarines do this year?

 

We only had 5 on the tree as we thinned them out to allow plenty of room but despite the fruits being on the small side, they were sweet and absolutely delicious thanks Gina!

 

Runner Beans - I grow stringless and they're lovely but I also grow from time to time the old fashioned Painted Lady variety with the pink and white flowers that Sarah was talking about. They're lovely beans. I grew Polestar this year and they've been very heavy cropping and tasty as anything!!