Tweet
I picked up a packet of LIBERTY runner beans recently from a speciality seed company whose name has escaped me. Ten beans in a packet. The claim is pods up to 60 cm length, heavy yields & tasty. Any one tried them? What were they like?
-
Last edited by GardeningMike; 24-03-2009, 04:17 PM. -
might have been from robinsons thats where my ten seed packet came from
good cropper and tasty some very long podsthis will be a battle from the heart
cymru am byth -
Well, more than two years on, from starting this thread, and I have at last started growing Liberty runner beans. I have to say that they don't dissapoint, with the majority of pods over 40 cm in length, the longest so far being 46 cm, weighing in at a stonking 88 grams for a single pod! Admittedly this pod had started to "plump out" but was still very edible. Most of the 45 cm pods so far weigh in at around 50 - 60 grams apiece as I don't want to leave them on the crop too long, wishing to prolong productivity. Haven't had any 60 cm pods, but then my aim is food production rather than growing the longest runner bean, which would involve thinning pods and therefore sacrificing yield. They are as tasty & succulent as any other beans, but like the older more traditional varieties they need stringing. I am only 9 days into August and am already averaging 390 grams per plant from a late sowing (late May), easily bypassing St George which I'm also growing Interesting to see how this giant of a variety pans out for the rest of the season...Comment
-
Useful info for anyone wanting to grow-for-show Mike
I've grown Enorma a couple of years, but gave them up as my family just aren't fans of massive runner beans, and our local show has stopped running now
Comment
-
Hmm, thanks for posting, I think I might investigate this bean. Sounds good for those more concerned with quantity (in the stomach) rather than quality (in the show) ! 
There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.
Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?Comment
-
My Moonlights are over 40cm (I'm saving them to use dry as butter beans). The plants are still producing plenty of smaller pods higher up which I pick at about 15cm to eat fresh.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
-
Forgot to mention that my runner beans are grown in pots on a patio, not a soil border. If you have access to Kitchen Garden magazine May 2008 issue (p. 36-37) you will find that I gave full details on how to get high yields of RBs from pots - ive improved the method since then though and may put this in print again sometime in 2012/13.
Regards, Mike.Comment
-
Yes, I can't understand why LIBERTY is not more widely available in the seed catalogues or garden centres as it is pretty impressive.Originally posted by SarzWix View PostUseful info for anyone wanting to grow-for-show Mike
MikeComment
-
Perhaps you should email someone like the real seed company, they're always doing veg trailsComment
-
I might have a look at these for next year. I changed from Scarlet Emperor for the first time in years to White Lady and Enorma and I'm disappointed with them as yet. Trying to be patient!Granny on the Game in SheffieldComment
-
I think White Lady is one of those varieties with a lot of hype in the marketing! It is stringless, and tastes good but yield is not brilliant. In a trial I carried out in 2007, comparing the hierloom variety Painted Lady, the latter perform much better (2Kg average per plant), outstripping White Lady (1.3 Kg average per plant). Both were grown in pots under similar conditions.Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post
I think I'll do a trial with Liberty next year as the control, and compare it to say Moonlight or any other interesting variety that any of you might suggest looking at.Comment
-
Update on LIBERTY runner beans
Results so far, 11 September 2011 - runner bean productivity for varieties Liberty & St George. Both varieties had a 3 metre vertical run (bamboo canes) from soil/compost level, being continuously harvested. Pods were never thinned to produce 'longer pods'.
Will log accumulated yields on this thread when the final harvest is in, expected to be sometime in October.
Yield per plant
Liberty: 1.3 Kg (accumulated average for 7 plants), pot grown on patio
St George: 0.75 Kg (accumulated average for 6 plants), grown in soil border
Longest Pod size (pods were not allowed to fatten but were picked while still suitable for eating)
Liberty: 47cm (weight of 62 grams)
St George: 35cm (weight of 44 grams)
Please note that this is not a proper runner bean trial - it just gives some idea of size for comparison.Last edited by GardeningMike; 11-09-2011, 08:18 AM.Comment
-
Yeah, but how did they taste?
All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
-
Well er, Two Sheds, they tasted like runner beans. Scroll back to #3.Originally posted by Two_Sheds View PostYeah, but how did they taste?
MikeComment
-
Well the gales we had down here last week from the visit of the edge of Hurricane Katie to the north of England & Scotland has finished my beans except some sheltered by a west facing wall which didn't get totally battered. Those Liberty RBs still have a bit of life in them yet, and are still productive have now produced 1.649 Kg per plant. The rest, including St George have not produced significantly more than in #12 on the 11th September. I doubt I'll hit 2 Kg per plant this year - not brilliant (overall) for RBs.
MikeComment
Comment