Success with Runner Beans - At last!

[Chomper Higgot]

After three years of trying I’ve finally got runner beans to crop in Thailand.

 

The first year things were looking hopeful but an unplanned business trip ended those hopes. Last year high temperatures during winter caused all the flowers to drop.

 

This year things have gone much better. 
 

I have so far harvested about a kilogram of beans from 6 plants, with more on the way.

 Not a massive harvest but at least I’ll get some of my favorite beans and will try a bigger crop next year.

 

The change I made to get this improvement was to plant seeds directly to no dig beds with 3 inches of home made compost cover, at a location where they only get morning sun. I also delayed sowing until Loy Kratong.

 

I accept the colder weather this year must have helped.

 

 

 

[cooked]

Nice! Those are what I call Firebeans, which are judged difficult to grow in my part of Europe.

I must admit, I never even tried runner beans once I had found Yard Long Beans, and I hardly grow anything that I used to grow back home.