Insects on runner beans

kippmajorsPqmsEPjF

Hi all, I’m very nee to gardening this year but so far have managed to produced planets for carrots, pumpkin, onions, tomatoes and runner beans! 

But - tonight I have noticed LOTS of tiny insects all over my runner beans. Can anyone identify and let me know if this is a big issue or natural or if I can get rid of them? 

They are in the same raised bed as my carrots, onions and pumpkin so concerned they could infect all? 

Dovefromabove

Those are blackfly … a type of aphid … you can squirt them off with a jet of water from the hosepipe.  You might have to do it a few times but it works. 

Keeping the flowers damp also helps with pollinating so helps ensure plenty of beans too. 

Also encouraging  birds and other wildlife that prey on aphids, such as ladybirds and their larvae, lacewings and hoverflies, will help to sort the problem out. 

kippmajorsPqmsEPjF

Ah ok, not as drastic measures as I thought then. Great tips, will get into it straight away 🙌

thank you! 

alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF

Any tips on pollination for runners. My flowers, year on year just drop off leaving me with just a few beans

Dovefromabove

Keep their roots really well watered. Another year you could consider growing these 
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/runner-bean-moonlight/4905TM 

This is the third year I’ve grown them. Self fertile even in warm spells, really good flavour and heavy cropper. 

Lyn

I’ve always had Firestorm self pollinating.
Here is where I buy mine from. 
https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/runner-bean-firestorm/

nick615

Golden rules for runner beans are 1) plenty of nutrition underneath them, 2) plenty of moisture at all times, helped by burying newsprint before planting to act as a reservoir, 3) treat aphids with liquid from boiled rhubarb leaves, applied from old household spray (keep some of it to use when rhubarb has died off in late summer), 4) ideally grow in a circular pattern to help concentrate feed and moisture, as attached.