Runner beans turning yellow

[vegelady]

I planted my runner beans (red rum) in small pots, germanated them in the airing cupboard and have been putting them outside in the sunshine every day and bringing them in at night. They are now about 3" high, growing nice and strongly but I have just noticed the leaves are turning yellow (or rather see through) - can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong. I am frantically preparing my raised beds - so cannot put them outside under cover yet
thank you
Alison

[rogesse]

Seems early - perhaps they're cold?

[selfraising]

I was going to say that too or do they need repotting?

[lyndap]

Bit early for them yet with the weather we've had.Also they need starting in either loo rolls or root trainers,as they have long roots.It may be their roots may be pot bound if the pots are very small.

[digthatchick]

I would agree - very early. I would start mine in the greenhouse planting around the last week in April to plant out mid May early June. If you have some seeds left try planting them in pots end of this month indoors and plant out in late May early June.

[King Carrot]

Its not the cold unless they've been caught in a chill wind, What size pots are they in? as I think they may be starving as they're extremely hungry plants, try a liquid seaweed feed and repotting to bigger pots with some quality compost or a little general fertilizer mixed in to feed them.

[vegelady]

I live in Cranleigh, Surrey and the weather has been really warm and sunny, they have been sitting in the sun, much warmer than on the windowledge inside as all the heating is turned off. They are in 3" pots of seed and potting compost. I grew beetroot and lettuce on the windowcill and it all got long and stringy so was trying to stop the beans doing the same. Thanks for your advice, maybe I left them outside too long late afternoon but I will repot them into bigger pots and I do have spare beans to plant direct into soil but was trying to get earlies so can plant some more seeds end April

[zazen999]

I've had a few crops from my early beans....but I give them a seaweed feed once a week, they go outdoors in the sun but if it gets windy they really don't like it, they need as deep a pot as you can without getting too wide, and they drink ALOT of water. I fill the saucer at least 4 times a day when it is warm and they drink it all up. On dull days they don't go out at all.

[GardeningMike]

RB leaves turning yelow...

I planted my runner beans (red rum) in small pots, germanated them in the airing cupboard and have been putting them outside in the sunshine every day and bringing them in at night. They are now about 3" high, growing nice and strongly but I have just noticed the leaves are turning yellow (or rather see through) - can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong. I am frantically preparing my raised beds - so cannot put them outside under cover yet
thank you
Alison

When the primary leaf pair of RBs emerge from the soil, they are normally yellowish, for the first day or so then green up rapidly. From what you're saying Alison, I assume they've already greened up and are now turning yellow again? If the latter is the case I suspect the problem is chilling injury. You might have lots of sun, but if temperatures are having difficulty creeping past say 5 C then the combination of light + low positive temperatures will induce chlorosis (loss of the green pigment, chlorophyll). If you plant out at this time of year you are likely to need some form of thermal protection, e.g. cut-off plastic bottle (top part), cloches, bubblewrap etc. If you can't give thermal protection do as others have mentioned in this thread and resow in May. RBs will not tolerate frost so you are not safe for sowing / planting outdoors without protection until after the last day of expected frost for your region. Which part of the country are you in?

[vegelady]

I'm from the south east of England and was digging my raised beds in a sundress so thought it was really hot, maybe it was just the double digging causing me to sweat! I have just repotted the beans and couldnt believe the root structure. And yes they were green, then turning yellow again. I will leave them inside if the weather is not hot or maybe I need to invest in a few cloches, this is all new to me. Ill see how they develop in their new pots and maybe resow in May. I was trying to sow a few now to go outside as plants in early May then sow a few outside in May to extend the growing season
really appreciate advice

[SarzWix]

I think it's lack of food, not the cold. Seed compost doesn't have that much in the way of nutrients, and runner beans like a lot. They should pick up a bit in the new compost, but you might have to give them a feed as well. Try sprinkling a few chicken manure pellets on the surface so they gradually dissolve in as you're watering, or some seaweed feed as the others suggested.
The symptoms of being cold are a bit different - leaves curling up at the edges is one.

[GardeningMike]

how many leaves do your plants have...?

I'm from the south east of England and was digging my raised beds in a sundress so thought it was really hot, maybe it was just the double digging causing me to sweat! I have just repotted the beans and couldnt believe the root structure. And yes they were green, then turning yellow again. I will leave them inside if the weather is not hot or maybe I need to invest in a few cloches, this is all new to me. Ill see how they develop in their new pots and maybe resow in May.

Yes root growth is vigorous, roots reaching the bottom of your pot whether its 10 cm deep or 45 cm deep fairly quickly. But what stage are your yellowing seedlings at, i.e. how many leaves had they developed when they started yellowing (RB shoot growth starts with the primary leaf pair and then onto trifoliate (clover-like) leaves one by one after this. It might help me comment on the 'food deficiency' remark in this thread if you could detail this.

[zazen999]

Hi Veglady...they usually curl or go floppy or papery if it is the cold....get some food in the water and give them a good feed and see if they revive.

[Creemteez]

All good advice, and also, you don't really need to successional-sow RB's.
If you keep them well watered and fed and most importantly KEEP PICKING, you'll have as many beans as you could possibly want right up to the first frosts - or until you're sick of the sight of them!

[divvy]

I have beens that were started in the greenhouse and are now in hanging baskets still inside . I also have one that has turned yellowish . the other two in the baskets are green . I don't think it can be cold , it's been 21 deg in the day here the last couple of day's , cooler yesterday . I think they need feeding . Can I put some of my BFB on the top and sort of hoe it in or should I give them some miricle grow .