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Posted by Laura (U9085143) on Monday, 21st February 2011
I have grown runner bean 'Enorma' for quite a number of years but do not see it mentioned in catalogues now. Perhaps it is because of the newer varieties coming on to the market but I have found it to be a really good bean and a prolific cropper so will stick with it. What do other gardener's think? and have they a favorite too?
"Painted Lady", reasonable cropper and pretty flowers ! Cheers, Tony.
plenty of seed firms sell enorma , marshalls are one...................
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by mattthegaffer (U14184801) on Monday, 21st February 2011
Johnson's Seeds (Mr Fothergills) still sell it...its on our seed racks now. Its on the Mr Fothergill's website. (We still grow Enorma on our PYO site).
, in reply to message 4.
Posted by honestGreengrass (U11104227) on Monday, 21st February 2011
I've been trying a number of different runners over the past four years but all have suffered the same problem... even with Scarlet Emperor....
.... Beautiful green healthy leaves and loads of flowers.... but hardly any pods!!!
I put it down to a lack of bees.
However, this year I'm getting one of the new Beepol Bumblebee hives .... My own pet Bumblebees to pollinate all my beans!!!!!!
There's a great write up in this month's Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Gardens Illustrated magazine.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Monday, 21st February 2011
I have found White Achievement to be an excellent variety, and having read good trial reports, tried Saint George last summer, and it lived up to the trial reports.
I have since done some more reading, and discovered that St George is supposed to be an early variety while White Achievement is a later one, so it is St George that I will be sowing first this year.
Grew St George last season & found it outstanding in terms of crop & flavour, it has the same pretty bicoloured flowers as Painted Lady.
I have found that Enorma has a poor flavour.
I've grown Wisley Magic for a couple of years, and they were really good, but they also seem to have disappeared from the shelves this year.
If you're having a pollination problem, why not try the new hybrid between a French bean and a runner bean called 'Moonlight' as it's self-pollinating.
Do shop around on price however as some of the seed companies are charging an extortionate amount for them because they are new - eg. £2.99 for 45 beans by T & M - Alan Romans (alanromans.com) had them on its web-site for 90p for 40 beans, but I think has now sold out.
Two to recommend Scarlet Emperor and Armstrong. The latter a newer variety, good cropper, good taste and does not go stringy.
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