do i need to pinch off the flower buds on my runner beans to make sure they grow well?

[Meglet]

My runner beans aren't that big (only 50cm so far) but have noticed a few small flowers forming on them. Is it best to take them off to ensure the plant keeps growing for a while yet? Or is it ok to let them flower and they'll still grow?

No! the flowers will form your beans so not pinch them off! It is very early days so let them grow and flower. If (by some miracle!) it is gets very hot and dry when the plants are in full flower, you may want to spray the flowers with water - I read somewhere that this helps to set the flowers so you have more beans.

I second Sis, don't pinch off the flowers! water well while in flower. With broad beans you pinch out the shoots once the flowers wither to encourge the plant to put it's energy into growing beans rather than gaining height, not sure if this is the same for runners though.

NO NO NO NO DON'T!

The plants will keep growing even with beans very low down

You must pick the developed bean pods off to keep them flowering and making more beans though (they are trying to set seed - take off the 'seeds' in the beans and they will have another go).

I have got my first bean flowers about a foot off the floor and i can;t wait for my first runner beans

NO NO NO NO NO NO the flowers are the beans

thank you all ! I did know the flowers were the beans, but wasn't sure if the plant would just get lazy if they came so soon. Didn't want tiny runner bean plants, i am planning to have enough to freeze eventually.

If you have more than 5 runner bean plants, you will have plenty to freeze!