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Could anyone advise which varieties of parsnips, broad and runner beans I should grow. I have been looking at seeds and there are so many so I would welcome any advise on varieties. Many thanks 
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I know this isn't exactly advice but it depends where you are on your growing adventures. Last year was my first year and I went along to the garden centre and found some runner bean seeds, bought them and planted them! They were from a reputable supplier, just can't remember the name off the top of my head (D T Brown or the like). I followed the instructions on the back of the pack and they grew like wild fire and gave me a bumper crop we're still eating!!!!!!
Just experiment... why not!
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @backyardveggie
My children will grow up knowing the Good Life... one day Tom and Barbara, one day! -
just found:
Grow It magazine, April 2011 edition, page 30 "Grow Runner Beans"
Four of the best:
white lady
painted lady
polestar
lady diFollow my adventures on Twitter: @backyardveggie
My children will grow up knowing the Good Life... one day Tom and Barbara, one day!Comment
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Thanks for your responseOriginally posted by Mantha81 View Post
It is my second year too! I planted runner beans last year and can't remember what variety. I did get a crop or really tasty beans but certainly not a bumper crop, I had been hoping to freeze some. I will have a look for the ones you have suggested and especially Lady Di seeing as my name is Diana!
I appreciate your advice, good luck with this year.
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For parsnips my vote would go with white gem, I've had a fab crop with those for two years on the trot.Comment
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Going back to the runner beans: I planted 12 plants using 3 large flexi tubs and 6ft canes. I planted the plants around the edge and then used spiked water bottles in the middle to give a constant but drip feed of water. They were also in full sun. I also used home grown compost in the middle mixed with a couple sprinkles of fish bone and blood. I would say I was taking 10 to 15 runners at every picking every other day!
I'm hoping for similar success this year!
Good luck ;-)Follow my adventures on Twitter: @backyardveggie
My children will grow up knowing the Good Life... one day Tom and Barbara, one day!Comment
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Runner beans are good for cool wet summers, French beans still crop well in hot dry summers.
Me, I don't really like fresh green beans. I grow 100s of Frenchies to use dried though, as kidney beans
Parsnips: I think I've tried them all, and Gladiator is my favourite (today I pulled a couple of self-sown ones. They weren't bad for mongrels)All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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I don't grow snips so can't help there. My two favorite runner beans are White Lady & Red Rum. 16 container grown plants gave just over 100lbs last year in fact I was enjoying some along with home grown garden peas with my lunch today.
ColinPotty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
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my fav's are
runner - white lady - massive crop last year
will be trying the new "moonlight" self fertile version this year, we picked them up at the garden show in shepton mallet last year
nips - gladiator
broad bean - bunyards
i am re-trying Auqa this year as did not have a good experience with first tryComment
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I'd go with the runner beans as you get a much longer crop, right at the start of the season you get handful of sweet juicy runners, as the season goes further you struggle to keep on top of them, and you blanch and freeze some you are not using straight away. Then as the season starts to wane and the beans go stringy you can depod the beans and cook just the beans. This way the season can be 4 months of crops, and give you a further 6 months of frozen produce.
I love parsnips, but beans would be the outright winner of those two for me, if space were a premium.
I couldn't tell you what type I have, they were given to me by my father, and he has been using the same seed his father gave him, so who knows what they are.I'm only here cos I got on the wrong bus.Comment
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I've only grown tender + true parsnips - they taste sweet, and earthy. Have had some monsters out of them. Think I'm a bit late sowing them this year now mind, but I ran out last year anywy.Comment
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Thanks
Thanks for all the advice, I have bought bunnyards broad beans, polestar runner beans and gladiator parsnips. Have also bought some mangetout but can't remember the variety and am thinking of getting a second type of runner bean
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