Too early for French Beans?

[lyndsbob]

Hi all

I planted some french beans on my sunny windowsill a few weeks ago, and already they are about 4-5 inches high. However, having done a bit of research i fear that its way to early to be planting them out, i've read that May is about the time to get them in the ground

i am a bit concerned that they will suffer if i keep them in doors, or in the greenhouse, because at the rate they seem to be growing, they will huge by May!

Do you think they will be ok to go in the ground in 1 or 2 weeks, or should i just keep them indoors / under glass until May? I am in Cornwall, so its reasonably mild (although not today!) and we rarely get frosts.
Maybe i should plant a load more seeds now, just in case?

What do you think?

[selfraising]

Hi
French beans are quite tender and I don't sow mine until May. I would keep the ones you have indoors just in case because if you were to have a frost, I'm not sure they would survive.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm not sowing mine until April, for planting out mid-May.
It's not just frost ... they hate being cold (they're South American).

[lyndap]

Sow mine end of april in toilet rolls then transplant end of may(still in their toilet rolls) into my 3 sisters bed.What size pots are they in? might be abit difficult to keep going.Wouldn't start anymore just yet though...give it a few weeks.

[coreopsis]

I'm not sowing mine until April, for planting out mid-May.
It's not just frost ... they hate being cold (they're South American).

As above,even if I put them outside around mid-May,I'll be watching the forecast everyday...

[Alice]

You're right Lyndsbob, your beans will be huge before you can put them out. They are very frost tender and won't tolerate it.
I think you have 2 choices here.

1) You can persist with the beans you have and put them out when they have outgrown their space and wrap them up in fleece to keep the cold and frost off. It works, it's just is it worth the work.

2) You can accept you were way too early with your beans, put them on the compost heap and start again end April / beginning May.

It's up to you.

[Creemteez]

You're right Lyndsbob, your beans will be huge before you can put them out. They are very frost tender and won't tolerate it.
I think you have 2 choices here.

1) You can persist with the beans you have and put them out when they have outgrown their space and wrap them up in fleece to keep the cold and frost off. It works, it's just is it worth the work.

2) You can accept you were way too early with your beans, put them on the compost heap and start again end April / beginning May.

It's up to you.

Ahh. don't chuck 'em, give the little darlings their chance. I'm resisting the urge to sow mine (North Cornwall), but having planted out in May last year and watched them all sulk for the best part of the growing season, has stayed my hand. Will probably sow middle to end of April. Good luck!

[shirlthegirl43]

Pigletwillie started this thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...are_27504.html which might be responsible for your early sowing. He does say to sow dwarf beans though

[lyndsbob]

even in the last few days they have grown about another 2 inches, i feel awful binning em, as they seem so vigorous, but i may have to free up some space on the window sill, and start a few more in a few weeks time
Thanks for your advice!

[Victoria26]

I had the same prob with runner beans which i had sown far to early. I knew if i planted them out they'd die but i was prepared to risk it and sow the rest in May. So far they've slowed down in growth but still look healthy! They've been out for nearly 3 weeks.

[Alison]

Runner beans are a bit more hardy than French ones so you stand a better chance with an early sowing of them.

[Flummery]

You could get away with putting them outside in the day and bringing them in at night. The outdoors will slow their growth a bit. But next year - hang fire a bit!

[lyndsbob]

so ive compromised! put 6 in the compost bin, and put 6 in the newly completed poly carb greenhouse (took 2 weeks to build!!) where i shall keep an eye on them and plant them out in a few more weeks - it was 16 c here yesterday, so i am hopeful!

Think i may get some runner beans going too. Thanks for all the advice!

[stamfordnovice]

Hi you may like to try planting them outdoors and covering with a cloche ,mulch plants with either good garden compost or well rotted grass cuttings . Delay planting seeds till mid April so time to sow some more in case they get caught by frost ,either in pots or as i do in toilet roll holders they will rot and avoid root disturbence when planting

[blito]

put 6 in the newly completed poly carb greenhouse (took 2 weeks to build!!) where i shall keep an eye on them and plant them out in a few more weeks - it was 16 c here yesterday, so i am hopeful!

Think i may get some runner beans going too. Thanks for all the advice!

exactly what i`ve done with mine! and as already mentioned you can leave them outside by day to harden off whilst putting them inside at night to protect from frost, AND being in cornwall you should be a good fortnight infront of the rest of us for planting out weather anyway!

I`m in Lincoln, which is a fairly mild part of the UK, and my french beans are germinating now in pots in the g/house, having been sown 2 weeks ago. Same time i sowed more beans direct in their final positions - between the 2 sowings i should get a reasonable survival rate so maybe you could do the same if you have spare seed?