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runner beans

• Message 1. 

  Posted by katie (U14383793) on Wednesday, 20th April 2011

  Ten days ago i sowed loads of runner beans! I put them in trays not pots i think that's first error! I have 15 plants and they have shot up so much! They look a little legy! They have been on my window ledge! Shall i start hardening them off? They have shot up to about 4-6 inches since Sunday! So so quick! Last year my neighbour done them for our allotments! Although i am doin some for my allotment i wanted to do some in garden. Now i don't know what to do for best. I know the frost would kill them but i can cover them! Please help!

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• Message 2

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  Posted by mummyduckegg (U8437139) on Wednesday, 20th April 2011

  You could put them outside during the day and bring them in at night for a few days, then leave them out all night unless it gets very cold. Try to transfer them very gently into higher pots, scooping them out under the roots with your fingers - don't pinch the stems. And don't panic!

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• Message 3

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  Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  Hi, Katie
  
  I'm sorry; you're a little ahead of the game. Runner beans are not at all hardy; therefore hardening them off really isn't feasible.
  
  As you have found, they germinate very quickly and once they have, grow very rapidly.
  The best plan is to forget the 'window ledge' stage & sow the seed outside in mid- May. This way the weather will be more favourable, including the risk of losing them to late frosts.
  
  Good luck!
  

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  Posted by Louise (U14848585) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  Katie,
  
  I have done the exact same thing! I didn't realise they would germinate so quickly OR that they would grow so big so quickly! I have 2 that are about 2 foot high sat on my window ledge, taking over my flat (eeek) and I haven't a clue what to do with them!
  
  I'm taking them down to my plot on the weekend and i'm just going to cover them in horticultural fleece until the threat of frost is definately over! Just as longs as the cooler nights don't finish them off!
  
  Although, since we have proven that they germinate very quickly & grow at a super rate, if these first few get stung by a late frost we will at least have learnt a lesson, plus if you have spare seeds you can at least get another batch going.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by horththit (U13862695) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  You could pinch them out, this would make them less leggy and more bushy, but they do need something deeper than a tray. The best thing to plant bean seeds in is toilet roll middles. They are nice and deep and don't take up too much compost. Also, cardboard is bio-degradable so you can plant the whole thing out in May with no disturbance. We are all on a learning curve. I have only just sown mine in the greenhouse. Good luck

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  Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  I've lost count of the times I've tried to persuade people not to let their enthusiasm get the better of them....especially with early sowings of frost sensitive stuff like runner beans, tomatoes, potatoes & so on.
  
  Put into your diary 'sow my runner bean seed on May 12th outdoors'.
  

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  Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  Intrestingly or not I put some in my propagator and they started to grow upside down towards the heat, the roots where coming through the top soi this was confirmed when I emptied some of the pots,I always thought they went the right way because of sunlight and they also could tell because gravity let them know which way round they were.
  
  Also put a couple in coir compost and grew normaly they are know growing out the open window......These of course were a couple of experiments.
  
  Found some old dry beans that have been out all winter full of seeds must try and grow them this week to see what happens.........

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• Message 8

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  Posted by brothershamass (U4829311) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  A wise and kind old man gave me some runnerbean seeds when I first took over my allotment and told me that traditionally they should be planted in the ground on 16th May.
  
  The next year, I caught him bringing pots to his allotment filled with beans about a foot high in the first week of May. I have never trusted anything this man has said to me since.
  
  So I start mind off in a coldframe mid April and will be planting them in the ground mid May.
  
  The long and the short of it is if your plant them direct in the ground they will catch up anyway because they have better weather to grow in.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by Oldends (U13875463) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  I've just sown mine in loo rolls. They'll now go in the greenhouse for a couple of weeks or so before being hardened off and planting in a month's time.

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  Posted by Sarcass (U14832525) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  I started mine in greenhouse weeks ago and they have been out in veggie plot for about 10 days and are doing great - I have been doing this for a few years now with no problem. I live in Wales but I find the summers are getting earlier and earlier so dont seem to have a problem. What happened to the traditional April shower saying that seems to be March showers etc now so it almost like we a month ahead. Yes I might get an odd frost but with amount I have I dont think it be a problem if lose a few.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Thursday, 21st April 2011

  Also when planted out from pots ect is that they are much more able to fight of the pests that will attack them,if I planted straight from seed the mice would have the seed and the slug army will take out any that do start growing.......Same reason I dont plant pumpkin from seed in soil.

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• Message 12

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  Posted by Sarcass (U14832525) on Thursday, 5th May 2011

  Mine are still doing great they are at the top of the canes now and I have first lot of flowers showing. Even if I get a frost which is unlikely now I might lose a couple but I still have odd few plants in greenhouse I sowed later just incase to fill in gaps. I love runners they are pretty when in flower and lush to eat a gardeners delight
  

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