Runner bean plants dying

[newtogardening]

Help i planted my runner bean plants 4weeks ago they died .due to frost planted 2nd load 2weeks ago and on sunday made like a pollytunel for my plants i had in my veg patch .on monday went out to look at my garden the runner bean plants had died.not sure why soil is sand base with homemade compost all other plants are ok .please help.

[rustylady]

You're planting them out far too early. Where are you growing them before planting out?

[newtogardening]

They are what i brought at a carboot sale old guy said it would be fine to plant out .

[rustylady]

So I suppose you have no idea whether they were in a greenhouse before you bought them. All tender plants (like runner and french beans) need careful hardening off before you plant them in the garden.

[taff]

the clue is that they died due to frost the first time round
you can make like a polytunnel, but outside night temperatures will still drop down to frost levels in a polytunnel. They just warm up faster and cool down slower due to no wind inside a tunnel.

[newtogardening]

ok thank you im not very good at this veg gardening so if i buy more when is best to plant them out .

[Shadylane]

old guy said it would be fine to plant out .

Old Guy lied. I haven't even started mine yet although I am in the chilly north. I think it's been cold everywhere though hasn't it?

[newtogardening]

yeah we have frost and temp has dropped big time so when do i plant flesh lot out ?

[donnakebab]

Don't buy more plants. Buy some seeds (probably cheaper) and plant them in your poly tunnel in pots then plant out around the end of May or when no more risk of frost.

That's what I'd do anyway.

[roitelet]

Don't plant out anything tender ie. not frost hardy until after the 20th May. From the 21st April until the 20th May we are in the period of the Lune rousse (Red Moon) This happens every year from the last full moon in April until the first full moon in May. The days can be quite hot but if the sky is clear at night temperature drops dramatically and there is a likely hood of frost. Then there are the days in May 12th - 15th which are named after the ice saints (St Glace). At this time the earth passes through a cosmic dust cloud which prevents the sun from warming up the atmosphere. Exactly 6months later it passes through the same dust cloud in November and for several days the temperature is relatively high. This is the summer of St Martin.

It's not Mumbo jumbo,just wait and see and the best of luck with the garden.

[Shadylane]

Interesting stuff roitelet. I'd heard about the red moon but not the dust cloud.

[taff]

seconded, buy seeds, scarlet emperor seem to be popular. Sow the seeds about 2 to three weeks before the end of May. They should be up in a week or so, then have a couple of weeks to get used to outside temps.
If you haven't got a greenhouse, or you're using one fo those blowaway things, sow them indoors, and plant out at the end of May, or sow indoors, then gradually get them used to outside temperatures in the blowaway in the day , bringing them in in the night.

[jackie j]

Newbie planted his runners out at the weekend, tried to say in a nice way he was a bit early and he scoffed at me. Its blooming cold here in the south west.

[Two_Sheds]

yeah we have frost and temp has dropped big time so when do i plant flesh lot out ?

Runner beans are from S.America: which is a lot warmer than England in April. They need a minimum temp of 10c, preferably 16c. If you try and rush it, they die.

Sow some seeds now, on a windowsill. Keep them light and warm, and then harden them off for 7-10 days before they go outside permanently (after your last frost date)

Newbie planted his runners out at the weekend, ... he scoffed at me.

Well you are a woman, what did you expect ?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Newbie planted his runners out at the weekend, tried to say in a nice way he was a bit early and he scoffed at me. Its blooming cold here in the south west.

She who laughs last etc. and with a bit of luck you will be able to in a couple of weeks.

Colin