Runner Beans.

[melv16]

Has anyone picked any yet? Mine are at least 3wks behind.

[puzzled54]

I have picked a few, but there are lots of flowers on them - am in the south west

[Maydup]

Mine have just reached the top of the canes and are beginning to flower. Looking lovely, if a bit late!

[melv16]

Ditto maydup. Lots of soft fruit this year,though:-)

[hc4361]

Mine are very late, too. Lots of flowers and two tiny beans so far.

[alavahalf]

Don't want to upset you guys but earlier today I picked a few and put them on the compost as they were too long. I have about 40 plants and have been supplying the neighbours and giving them away for 2 weeks now. Mine have left the top of the 7ft canes are blowing in the wind.
Next week it looks like there will be 100's for the compost.

http://i58.tinypic.com/vgri82.jpg

[Maydup]

Oh what beauties^^^!

Loving the hooped support there for the canes. Shame to have to compost any though. I stop them once they reach the top of the canes, it seems to help.

[alavahalf]

The hooped support is a spare section off my polytunnel. It solves the issue of any gales taking the beans over, which has happened in the past.
Cant reach the top of the canes now as everything around them is so tightly packed. Just had a thought ... I might snip them tomorrow with some edging shears !

[Maydup]

Good idea. Trim it like a hedge!

[mrs.chappie]

We have some ready for picking. We're having them with a home-made steak pie on Thursday. Can't wait.

[alavahalf]

I to now have a runner bean problem .. I am eating them for Britain. I am giving them away to whoever wants them, I have frozen them,curried them and it looks like I am now going to have to compost them... any ideas ?
Don't say make chutney as I am just about out of jars.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2wf3chw.jpg

[melv16]

Try them deep fried in a tempura batter. I put some cumin and chilli powder in the batter mix.

[melv16]

Yayyyy. got my 1st beans of the season today:-)

[Maydup]

Runner bean soup is good and will freeze well

https://mybeautfulthings.wordpress.com/recipes-savoury/runner-bean-soup/

As will runner bean ratatouille which you can have on pasta in the winter or over a jacket spud.

http://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/view/recipe/runner-bean-ratatouille

[Maydup]

I have plenty of flowers but still no beans! Can I pop over Alavahalf?

[alavahalf]

You are more than welcome to pop over as long as you take a bucket of beans and some courgettes and a cucumber, some chard as well as some peppers. Forgot, you must have some beetroot... boltardy as well as some other strange one I have grown. I reckon the tomatoes are going to go mental within the next two weeks ( have 70 plants). The lettuce has got the better of me this year and I am now feeding it to chickens on the plot next to me.
Have got Little gems and Lola Rosa coming out of my ears .. http://i60.tinypic.com/3136djp.jpg .. the chickens love them.

Well done Melv ... 'all will come to those who wait' .. funnily enough the guy who I most look up for advice was complaining today, as he only started picking his yesterday... managed to give him some of mine though!

[melv16]

I had some left over plants that had been in the cold frame and were getting a bit leggy. I gave them to a neighbouring plot holder. He's been picking beans for the last two weeks...grrr

[alavahalf]

Melv ... have done some research on Tempura batter ... sounds interesting although it's something I have never attempted.
At the moment I am up to my neck making beetroot and onion chutney.

I managed to ditch a whole bucket of runners on a neighbour tonight ... came away with half a dozen cold lagers ... I like beans ..
.. but I like cold lager more !

[tamborine]

Had a handful today as I pick at 4inch.