French bean dilemma...

[Rabidbun]

Being the organised sort that I am , I managed to sow all my beans this year just in time for most of them to be showing in their little pots (3 inches diameter) just around now. Most of them have their first sets of leaves and have been living out of sight of blackbirds on the floor of my unheated greenhouse, which is open at all times, night and day.

My dilemma is this - the entire bank holiday week is an absolute no go as far as planting goes (will have time only to water, if that), but given Metcheck's panicking over possible near frosts (down to +4 if I believe them) and the lack of hardening off (unless leaving the GH open counts...) can I get away with planting them over the next couple of days? Or, will I avoid triffids if I Don't plant them out for two more weeks or so?

*gulps and hopes mightily for more experienced bean planters to solve the dilemma!*

[Capsid]

If they only have their first 2 leaves then they can stay in their pots for a few more days yet (until the weekend after next?). Then the frost should have gone. That said I planted my dwarf beans out last weekend and although it will get cold, the frosts won't probably be that severe, I hope.

[Nicos]

How about lining them up against the wall of your house( will act a bit like a radiator during the night) and covering them with fleece all day?
That'll keep the frost off at night and the blackbirds during the day and help prevent them from drying out!!

...just a thought!

[Two_Sheds]

Blackbirds don't eat beans ...

[always digging]

they will be fine im the same mine are all ready to go out but a slight delay will do them no harm.whats with the blackbirds

[binley100]

Blackbirds don't eat beans ...

unless they're pigeons/ rabbits in disguise..

[Rabidbun]

Thanks all - very relieved and much appreciated!

And egads the blackbirds... Don't know how best to describe the nutter creatures. Basically there's a whole family of them that seem intent on digging their way to Australia through my pots and raised beds.

Huge amount of damage (had to net and fleece everything I want to keep so far despite needing to let the frogs in to eat the slugs) as they are digging two to three inch holes everywhere (particularly near dense root balls) and destroying anything without a really well developed root system. Anything with a decent root system is being stunted and not growing or flowering. Psycho birds here!

Actually considering feeding them with live worms or something to fill them up...

[Two_Sheds]

Actually considering feeding them with live worms or something to fill them up...

Wow, nutter psycho blackbirds
You must have really loose soil that they can dig, and lots of bugs and beasties for them to go after.
I feed 'my' blackbirds with soaked sultanas all year round, because I love them. They are getting through a pound a week at the moment, feeding babies.

[Flummery]

We had a chilly night last night - down to 1.3 - so I would hang fire if they are only showing the first leaves. One of my chickens dug up a bean. She saw the white roots and screamed and jumped back! Mad hen! Fortunately the blackbirds haven't tried it yet!

[Rabidbun]

Blimey, would never have thought of sultanas! Durn sight easier to get than worms, that's for sure! Will try that, thanks. Poor things are looking a wee bit thin this year (with all their usual food being seen off I suspect by the weather ).

And beans are all now lined up in shelter (delaying planting out for a week and a half or so), thanks again all!