Having not been able to get down the allotment as often as we want to, I was worried that the beans would shrivel in the heat we have been having lately and die. Surprisingly, a quick water once a week has been enough for them and they are starting to climb the poles erected. They are a mixture of french beans and runner beans – I have left space at each end so I can tie them up of they get too bushy!
I’ll tie them to the poles a little better on the weekend so they can climb high!
Above, the lettuce look quite nice in their little bed by the house, quite handy, although the litle gems are ‘hearting’ now so they probably need to be picked soon before they start going over. The peas behind are going very wild although they are also cropping well. I think they need to be tied up at the weekend. There really is nothing better than a fresh pea off the vine!
Also in the picture are some radishes I forgot to pick, which are bolting and the tomatoes on the left which I wil post more detail on soon.
Tags: beans climbing, growing beans on an allotment, little gem lettuce growing, mangetout peas, runner beans and french beans
June 27th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Ours peas have been great this year too, and the broad beans. Lettuce is looking good there!
June 28th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I’ve just picked my first peas tonight. They’re delicious eaten straight from their pods.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:40 am
We’ve got our climbing french beans and runner beans on separate frames, and interplanted the runner beans (both white and red flowered) with sweet peas to encourage pollinators to visit. The french beans don’t seem to need the help from pollinators that the runner beans sometimes do, especially when the weather is dry.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Hi, looking for tips on when and how to pick little gem lettuces… I have a row of them and am not sure whether to cut them, pull them from the ground or just pick off outer leaves and leave the rest there to carry on growing? Any help welcome!