Runner Beans

[Oleanda]

My runner beans have been a disaster this year. The plants are fine, but most of the flowers are falling off before any beans are formed. Can anyone give me any idea why this would happen?

[woofgang]

lack of pollination insects or a dry spell just after pollination

[Chipchopper]

I too, have noticed a distinct lack of bees this year.
We can help by growing plants which attract pollinators and stop using pesticides.

[New Judge]

I usually have a good crop of runners. This year my crop, too, has been an utter disaster. The problems started early on when they were absolutely infested with blackfly. These pests suck the sap from the stems and really stunt the plants. They never really recovered from that but if they had I don't think my crop would have been too good anyway. Runners hate extreme heat, especially when the flowers are setting fruit. We had a hot spell when that was beginning to happen and the few flowers I had suffered badly. Just one of those things. Tomatoes have been a roaring success this year so you win some, you lose some. That's gardening for you! :-)

[jourdain2]

Our Runners have been poor too, but the dwarf French Beans have cropped very well. Our tomato harvest has been poor for some reason.

[bobc1941]

My runner beans have been a disaster this year but the stick beans and tomatoes have been great which I put down to the hot weather we've had in London