Those are aphids and can be removed manually by the thumb and forefinger pinch. Also you can use neem oil or organic sprays such as pyrethrum.
In the spring you can cover your plants with mesh to prevent insect damage.
Why do the flowers drop before the pods are set?
General purpose fertilizers contain nitrogen. This will prevent fruit from properly forming on the plants.
Beans are legumes. These types of plants "make" their own nitrogen, and fix it into the soil. Adding any more than that and they will fail to fruit. The best I could suggest, would be to flush out the soil, and be sure that the water can drain extremely well through the pot. Flush it passed the point you would feel is enough.
The only fertilizers you will need will be a specific formula for flowering plants. These will contain phosphorus and potassium, but not nitrogen.
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/bean-blossoms-no-pods.htm
My question of about 10 days ago does not show. Am I not doing something here that I should?
Make sure to go to questions home page here: https://questions.gardeningknowhow.com. Using the unanswered questions link will only take you to the questions that remain unanswered. Also, sometimes we get flooded with questions and it takes several days to get them answered.
Runner beans, string beans and peas. Having limited space in my garden, could these vegetables be planted together?
You can plant the beans and peas with each other, but beans can't be planted with other beans without competing for space and nutrients. Different types of beans won't even tolerate being planted too close to each other in ground.
You will have to rotate out which you choose at one time.
This article will help you with companion gardening:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/companion-vegetable-garden.htm
Last year after a good start my runner beans suffered from infestation on the leaves. It looked like soot, causing the leaves to curl up, and the vines to die. Have you any suggestions to avoid the same problem this year. The red flower in the second photo is a nasturtium.
I notice debris/yard waste/leaves in the pics. Clear the site completely of waste and debris then identify soil type (sandy or peat etc) and adjust to allow for proper drainage before planting. If soil type/characteristics are good to perfect for bean variety then aerorate the soil and allow for more air between encouraging vines to climb higher than broader. Note shade/sun ratio of site as well. Pics indicate too shady perhaps? Finally it may be time to rotate the "crop" for that site
I have grown vegetables before with no problems but this year it is terrible.
Beans are self fertile, and do not require any help with pollination. The slightest breeze will pollinate the flowers. While this can be a case for some of the antique cultivars, it is not common. More than likely, there is a different problem.
These problems include too much moisture, not enough phosphorus in the soil, slightly too much nitrogen in the soil, or temperatures that are too warm. Alternatively, the soil could be a little too acidic, which will make phosphorus unavailable to the plant. A soil test will confirm this.
This article will help you with your issues: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/bean-blossoms-no-pods.htm
This article will give you more information on the proper care of beans: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/scarlet-runner-bean/growing-scarlet-runner-beans.htm
My runner beans plants always grow well on the frame but produce very large leaves and it looks like a jungle . I get a good crop of beans but can I cut off some of the large leaves , mainly to see where the beans are but is to much energy going to the leaves and not the beans.
Beans harvest their own nitrogen, and cutting leaves will negatively impact bean production. You may need a bean inoculant to see an increase in production. Feeding your plant with extra nitrogen will cause a lack of production as well.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/soil-inoculants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/tips-for-growing-beans.htm