Keen Runner Beans?????

[bradlo]

Has anyone planted out their runner beans yet?????
I have several growing VERY well in pots in the greenhouse, and they look like they are desperate to go outside!!!
I live in South Wales
Is it too early for them ???
Cheers!!!!

[Florence Fennel]

Yesterday, I took the bubblewrap off some I sowed in modules in the stayput about 4 weeks ago. If anything they look a bit woody to me, I think they should have been moved on to bigger pots before now. I'm keen to get them in the ground and I think they'll take their chance at the weekend.

[chris]

Chap on my plot has them out already - but we're due a frost this weekend, so I'd hold out until next week unless you can protect them?

Edit: in Caerphilly Might be warmer near larger cities mind.

[bradlo]

Edit: in Caerphilly Might be warmer near larger cities mind.

Chris ...I am near the large city of Pontypool...do you think that will make a difference??!!!!!!!

[chris]

10 day Weather in Pontypool - weather.co.uk - I use this site, which I find quite accurate.

Anything 4C and below and a frost can form... You're forecast to be the same temps as us a little over the way here

That said, microclimates etc all play a part in it - if you're site is sheltered you may not get a frost etc.

If you want to take a chance, and if they're hardened off - put them out but I'd be covering them with fleece. I'd be prepared to plant some more though

[bradlo]

Thanks Chris! Have bookmarked the weather site!!!!
Will probably leave them for a few more days!!

[horticultural_hobbit]

Nothing is being thrown out til the end of may. Mid may though, will be my window for hardening stuff off.

[Florence Fennel]

Ne'er cast a clout HH, ne'er cast a clout

[Two_Sheds]

My last frost has passed and the first Frenchies are hardening off this week, to be planted out next weekend, 12/13 May

[Thelma Sanders]

be careful that's the Ice Saints days

[Two_Sheds]

Not over here it ain't

[donnakebab]

Nothing is being thrown out til the end of may. Mid may though, will be my window for hardening stuff off.

That's what I always do and we're in the same area so must be something in it.

[binley100]

Not got round to sowing mine yet ........but have cleared some space on the gh floor ready ........We look like we may get some frost at the weekend. Anyway I try not to put things out till June .....

[kathyd]

I've only just started sowing some in small pots where they'll go in the polytunnel until they're big enough to withstand the ravages of the local mouse population as well as the weather ... I have to keep reminding myself that I can keep sowing them until about June, so I don't need to panic just yet (she says, looking out of the window at yet more rain!!). I find it's really easy to slip into that mindset of trying to sow things earlier and earlier... my French neighbours all think I'm mad for working in the garden already!

[GardeningMike]

Dear Bradlo,
I wouldn't plant out any runner beans yet. Temperatures here, down in Hastings on the south coast, are struggling to hit 10 C during the day and still hitting as low as 5-6 C at night even though we are now into May!

Remember runner beans, though hardier than french beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, and squashes, are nevertheless a chilling sensitive crop and can be damaged by air temperatures below 10C for extended periods.

A good rule of thumb is to sow runner beans indoors, two weeks before the average date of the expected last frost for your area (for my area, Hastings, this is mid-May so I would sow indoors at start of May) and then plant out once maximum daytime temperatures are mainly above 10 C. You could use a 'floating fleece' or 'bubblewrap' to cosy them up a bit as I have done and this does appear to bring them on and protect them against the unpredictable weather at this time of year.

The danger is to be lulled into a false sense of security in Spring when we have those 'mini-heastwaves' in March or April and to plant out those chilling-sensitive crops too early. I see evidence of that this year with other allotment holders.

Kind regards
GardeningMike
(horticulturist)