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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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 Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 12:33 pm Post subject: runner bean question ,pollination update |
 
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i have a few bean plants,they are flowering well but although there seem quite a few bees only about half the flowers are setting bean pods.
is this normal?
if not what should i do?
Last edited by dpack on Wed Jul 22, 15 9:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Nicky Colour it green
Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 8698
Location: Devon, uk
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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sometimes bees cut a hole in the side of the flower instead of going the standard way - which means they are unfertilised
blame short tongued bees!
can't think of anything you can do if the beans are not setting, other than hope that things change |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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the side entry seems quite usual with my wild bee selection
i wonder if a brush might help? |
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Falstaff
Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Brush helps with most fertilisation. 
It's a problem with early beans - you don't seem to get it so much on later ones. My ol' man used to turn the hosepipe on the flowers, some suggest using a hose to "Dampen the atmosphere".
You'll get some, whatever you do and your later plantings should be fine as I said. . |
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marigold
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it's quite normal for flowers not to result in beans early in the season. Giving them a shower is supposed to help, though I'm not sure it does more than give you the satisfaction of having done something. They do need to be well-watered though, especially if grown in pots. And watch out for blackfly and soap/spray them off pronto. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 15 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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water is easy as i have a holey hose running around all the fish boxes
i will give em a spray and try brush pollination in the ongoing flowers |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 10983
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 15 6:00 am Post subject: |
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I think if you spray them with water it can wash the pollen down and fertilise the flowers. They don't tend to fertilise in dry weather though. In 1976 we didn't get anything much until the rain started in September. |
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 15 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Regular watering.
The first thing a plant does if it's suffering water stress is stop producing nectar.
No nectar, no bees, no pollination. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 10983
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 15 6:56 am Post subject: |
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My beans are just starting to flower and I am watering them regularly at the moment as we haven't had rain for a while. Hoping some start to set soon, or it will be the spray or the paintbrush. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 15 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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the flowers that have dropped since it started raining after the hot spell do seem to have a better pollination rate so the spraying thing might be sensible in dry weather . |
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699
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| Posted: Thu Jul 09, 15 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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It is important to keep the ground moist at root level as much as possible irrespective of the constantly changing external conditions. This is why a good root mulch is so important so the available ground water and nutrient is accessible at short notice to the vitally developing parts of the plant. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 15 9:54 am Post subject: |
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a quick update ,the beans have been setting much better,this could be due to the reasons set out above but something i have noticed is the set rate improved once there were small thin type of hoverflies sipping nectar as well as assorted bees |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 15 9:56 am Post subject: |
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ps i didnt get round to the brush thing as they started setting soon after my question. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 10983
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 15 6:19 am Post subject: |
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Glad your beans are setting. My runners haven't yet, but not many are in flower. The French beans are though, and hope to have a picking soon. I put them in a bit late as it was so cold at the end of May. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 35670
Location: yes
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 15 8:15 am Post subject: |
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so far i have had one 3 portion crop and the second cut is bigger and ready. |
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