I am stymied as to how anyone in the UK ever gets beans from these. I know
it is hotter and sunnier here than in the UK and mine are just flowering,
while the regular green beans or fagiolini have been producing for over a
week. They were planted the same day.

The flowers are lovely, can't wait to see the beans.

Following up to Giusi

> I am stymied as to how anyone in the UK ever gets beans from these. I know
> it is hotter and sunnier here than in the UK and mine are just flowering,
> while the regular green beans or fagiolini have been producing for over a
> week. They were planted the same day.

runner beans are usually eaten as whole pods, but sliced. They need to be
young or will be stringy (you always need to take out a couple of strings
IIRC) we plant them in the open in May, June or July after last frost. I
think the ones others have on the allotments are nearly ready. I'm not sure
anybody grows them on for actual beans as they might in Spain?

Mike..... wrote on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:23:28 +0100:

>> I am stymied as to how anyone in the UK ever gets beans from
>> these. I know it is hotter and sunnier here than in the UK
>> and mine are just flowering, while the regular green beans or
>> fagiolini have been producing for over a week. They were
>> planted the same day.

For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we call French
Beans in the US? These have been bred to be essentially stringless and
the pods (with beans) are cooked sliced into 2 inch lengths. Their
thickness is usually about a quarter of an inch but some "gourmet"
stores sell a variety that is about 1/8 inch thick. These are not
usually sliced.

Following up to James Silverton

> For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we call French
> Beans in the US? These have been bred to be essentially stringless and
> the pods (with beans) are cooked sliced into 2 inch lengths.

french beans are a stringless (often dwarfed) version I think. Runner beans
have big tough pods if grown on (over six inches, flat shape, few actual
beans).

"James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton> wrote in message
news:lu21
> Mike..... wrote on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:23:28 +0100:
>> For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we call French
> Beans in the US? These have been bred to be essentially stringless and the
> pods (with beans) are cooked sliced into 2 inch lengths. Their thickness
> is usually about a quarter of an inch but some "gourmet" stores sell a
> variety that is about 1/8 inch thick. These are not usually sliced.
> --
>
This might help: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Search.aspx?oa=true
In Canada, runner beans are often called "pole beans". Perhaps it's the
same down south.
I tried growing them here in Calgary but the last time I tried, they were in
full flower in the middle of August (attracting the Humming Birds) then we
had a heavy snow fall - that's right, in the middle of August!!!
Graham

Graham wrote on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:14:44 GMT:


> "James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton> wrote in
>> For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we
>> call French Beans in the US?

>This might help: [..]

Thanks, that's useful and I never knew that "French Beans" were really
South American :-)

"Mike....." <mikexclothing> wrote in message
news:kdlg
> Following up to James Silverton
>
>> For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we call French
>> Beans in the US? These have been bred to be essentially stringless and
>> the pods (with beans) are cooked sliced into 2 inch lengths.
>
> french beans are a stringless (often dwarfed) version I think. Runner
> beans
> have big tough pods if grown on (over six inches, flat shape, few actual
> beans).
> --
Either way, although I like the flavour, I detest the texture, even when
well-cooked. There's a "siliceous" texture to the crunchiness that puts my
teeth on edge.
Graham

"Graham" <g.stereo> ha scritto nel messaggio

> In Canada, runner beans are often called "pole beans". Perhaps it's the
> same down south.

I remember my mother's pole beans and the only thing they had in common with
these was that they grew really long. These have purple stems and
beautiful, pealike red/purple flowers. Can't tell what the beans might look
like!

The message <g64oba$lu2$1>
from "James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton> contains these words:

> Mike..... wrote on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:23:28 +0100:

> >> I am stymied as to how anyone in the UK ever gets beans from
> >> these. I know it is hotter and sunnier here than in the UK
> >> and mine are just flowering, while the regular green beans or
> >> fagiolini have been producing for over a week. They were
> >> planted the same day.

> For my own education, are Runner Beans the same as what we call French
> Beans in the US?

What Brits call runner beans, is a twining plant which climbs up a
pole structure to about 7ft.
The pods are flat; usually cut diagonally and steamed or boiled. The
flowers areheld up in sprays a bit like sweetpea flowers; either red or
white (or both) and are an attractive feature.

What Brits call French beans, are a smaller non-twining non-climbing
plant which makes a small bush about 15 " high; the pods are cylindrical
and half the length of runner beans. Small ones are steamed or boiled
whole. The flowers lurk under the leaves.

The two different sorts have quite distinct tastes. Runner beans are
easy to grow and crop heavily; french beans need slightly more care IME
as they are more vulnerable to slugs and critters.

HTH

Janet

The message <6em0vlF7qautU1>
from "Giusi" <decobabeone> contains these words:

> I am stymied as to how anyone in the UK ever gets beans from these. I know
> it is hotter and sunnier here than in the UK and mine are just flowering,
> while the regular green beans or fagiolini have been producing for over a
> week. They were planted the same day.

Runner beans are a bit hardier than French and do very well in UK
conditions; in Scotland I find runners easy and successful . I haven't
srtaed picking ours yet.

French beans are not quite so robust here and usually crop a bit
later.(didn't grow any this year).

Janet

"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john> wrote in message
news:5644
> The message <6em0vlF7qautU1>
> from "Giusi" <decobabeone> contains these words:
>> Runner beans are a bit hardier than French and do very well in UK
> conditions; in Scotland I find runners easy and successful . I haven't
> srtaed picking ours yet.
>
> French beans are not quite so robust here and usually crop a bit
> later.(didn't grow any this year).
>
> Janet

I grow runners every year, usually starting them off in pots and then
transplanting. I am usually picking them by now, but the weather here (North
Yorkshire) has been so wet and grey that they have a lot of leaf and not
many flowers. There are tiny beans on the plants but they won't be ready to
pick for another week or so. For the past couple of years I have grown an
assortment with different flowers (white, pink, cream, red) so that they are
quite ornamental.
If picked young they are stringless. I like them steamed or boiled quickly,
then tossed in butter. They are also good cold in salads. The big advantage
over French beans is that you can grow a good crop in a very small area as
they grow upwards.
Kathleen

Kathleen Roberts wrote:
> I grow runners every year, usually starting them off in pots and then
> transplanting. I am usually picking them by now, but the weather here
> (North Yorkshire) has been so wet and grey that they have a lot of
> leaf and not many flowers. There are tiny beans on the plants but
> they won't be ready to pick for another week or so. For the past
> couple of years I have grown an assortment with different flowers
> (white, pink, cream, red) so that they are quite ornamental.
> If picked young they are stringless. I like them steamed or boiled
> quickly, then tossed in butter. They are also good cold in salads.
> The big advantage over French beans is that you can grow a good crop
> in a very small area as they grow upwards.


Hi Kathleen, I am in North Yorks too and it has been 25c all week. Hope it
isn't too late for your beans!

"Ophelia" <Ophelia> wrote in message
news:br61
> Kathleen Roberts wrote:
>> Hi Kathleen, I am in North Yorks too and it has been 25c all week. Hope
> it isn't too late for your beans!
It was very hot and muggy yesterday but only got out sunny at about 4.30 pm.
By which time I was on the train to Leeds....had a very nice meal in
Kendell's Bistro.
Today is grey and miserable and the painter is trying to do the back of the
house despite what we are optimistically calling a 'sea fret' but looks
suspiciously like impending rain.
Whereabouts are you? I am near Harrogate.

Kathleen Roberts wrote:
>> Hi Kathleen, I am in North Yorks too and it has been 25c all week. Hope
>> it isn't too late for your beans!
> It was very hot and muggy yesterday but only got out sunny at about
> 4.30 pm. By which time I was on the train to Leeds....had a very nice
> meal in Kendell's Bistro.
> Today is grey and miserable and the painter is trying to do the back
> of the house despite what we are optimistically calling a 'sea fret'
> but looks suspiciously like impending rain.
> Whereabouts are you? I am near Harrogate.

Near Ripon:)

"Ophelia" <Opheilia> wrote in message
news:aju5
> Kathleen Roberts wrote:
>>> Hi Kathleen, I am in North Yorks too and it has been 25c all week. Hope
>>> it isn't too late for your beans!
>> It was very hot and muggy yesterday but only got out sunny at about
>> 4.30 pm. By which time I was on the train to Leeds....had a very nice
>> meal in Kendell's Bistro.
>> Today is grey and miserable and the painter is trying to do the back
>> of the house despite what we are optimistically calling a 'sea fret'
>> but looks suspiciously like impending rain.
>> Whereabouts are you? I am near Harrogate.
>
> Near Ripon:)
I think we must have our own microclimate here - and it's not a very good
one! I was planning on getting some strawberries from the local pick your
own (at Harewood bridge) to make jam, but not when it is nasty and damp like
today.