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Mark Ridsdill Smith is also called the Vertical Gardener (not because he is very tall but because he is an expert in gardening in a small space which means growing vertically). Here are his tips to help you win the Giant Bean Competition.
Mark's runner bean flowers need the bees to form beans
1. Runners grow best with lots of water – so use a large pot (easier to keep well watered) or a container with a water reservoir (like an Earthbox)
2. They need pollinating by bees – so it can be fun and beneficial to grow some insect attracting flowers nearby.
Are your beans buzzing with bees?
3. Slugs love runner bean seedlings. You can protect with small home made cloches – cut empty drink bottles in half and put one over each seedling.
4. You can buy runners with both orange or white flowers. Mixing the two can look really pretty.
5. Runners need a good tall support to climb up – like a wigwam. If you can find tall branches, they can look much prettier than canes.
6. When the runners reach the top of the canes, pinch out the tops (this means cutting the very tip off). This will encourage the plant to send out more shoots – and beans – below.
7. Pick, pick, pick. It’s very important to keep picking running beans – as this encourages the plant to grow more. Pick the beans small for a delicious, tender treat (big beans look cool but can be rather tough to eat).
8. To boost your crop, feed with liquid tomato food once every two or three weeks after the plant starts flowering.
Mark tends his runner beans