Dwarf French Bean Germination Rates?

[salome2001]

I was getting a bit miffed at mine until I read somewhere that germination rates for beans are only about 75-80%. Which I understand is less than yours (but about right for mine)

Regarding the upside down confused beans, I also read somewhere that if you look really closely at the "bellybutton" of the bean, you'll see a tiny dot on one end, and this is where the radicle grows from, plant the seed dot down.

HTH

[VirginVegGrower]

Mine are through because I put them on top of the radiator shelf by mistake, before they got switched off (as summer arrived). Will try this tactic again next time.

[singleseeder]

I had problems with runners in the propagator this year and wondered if the compost was too moist in the bag and then the heat almost 'cooked' the beans. Although it was more white fungus around the bean than the bean rotting like french beans do.

Have since done the soak/kitchen paper/polybag shuffle and have had beans/peas chit within 48 hours. Still waiting for Borlottis from 2007 and Sutton BB from 2003 My parsimoniousness (?) with seed doesn't always pay off!

[Florence Fennel]

I thought mine were in the stayput until I did the watering last night and they are actually on some staging outside. I must have put them there until I made room inside and then just plain forgot! It'll be interesting to see if they germinate with the arrival of warm weather. Sowing some more this weekend just in case.

[Jimmy]

I often start mine in the green house in a length of old guttering the same width as my raised beds.
This year I had peas in the guttering so I just filled a deep seed tray with compost and sowed the beans very close together. Most germinated.
Once about 2 inch high I planted them out under a poly tunnel.
I have just taken the tunnel off due to the good weather.
They look OK up to now.
Jimmy