Runner Bean Confusion!

[matthew77]

Hi all,

I am having my first dabble at growing runner beans this year and sowed them last week in my kitchen. I now have 12 plants that have shot up to 5 inches tall in a few days and already have a root coming through the base of the pot.

My question is this, when should they be replanted as I don't want to stunt thier growth and I don't want to put them out too early.

Please help

[Snadger]

Runner beans are very susceptable to frost! You may get away with a temporary cloche, cold frame or even fleece! There again, you may not!

[vicki lorraine]

What size pots did you sow them in? Runner beans are best sown in deep pots or toilet roll tubes - then you can plant the tube and plant.
I plant mine out in May but stand guard with some fleece in case of any frost.
Remember to harden them off before planting out too.

[matthew77]

I potted them in 6 inch pots because I was worried about thier growth.


Thanks for the other advice, I was going to start hardenin them off next week, but was getting more and more concerned as they absolutely fly up!

[Alison]

I usually plant some in the greenhouse in root trainers and a further set in straight into the ground during May. Gives me a bit of a staggered crop and means that I get a second chance if for some reason something goes wrong.

[terrier]

I put my runner bean seeds in pots over a week ago. They are languishing in the chicken shed at the moment with no sign of sprouting yet. When I go in there during the day it is nice and warm but I'm wondering if it goes too cold at night and is stopping germination. How long should I wait for them to sprout?

[matthew77]

On our kitchen window sill they sprouted in about 4 - 5 days. However, as mentioned earlier I am a begginer with this crop so don't know how long it is best to wait.

[vicki lorraine]

Matthew77 you were very lucky.
I planted mine 2 weeks ago in the unheated greenhouse and they have begun to sprout overe the last 3 days.

[matthew77]

I would rather be lucky than good

I planted them last saturday and was sort of preparing myself for a long wait, but once they broke the surface there was no stopping them.

[vicki lorraine]

Runner beans are hungry feeders have you prepared a trench for them? Did mine a couple of weeks ago and have erected my poles ready.

[Alice]

Hello Mathew, with beans planting late is good. As you have discovered they come up very quickly and get very big. They will not stand any frost so there is then the problem of planting them out.
You have a number of choices here
You can repot them into bigger pots, harden them off, put them outside and be prepared to grab them into the house or greenhouse if the weather turns colder or frosty, then plant them in the ground when all risk of frost is past
You could harden them off and plant them in the ground and keep your fleece at the ready and wrap them up in it if the weather turns cold or frosty
You could decide you planted too early , let them take their chances, and replant in May
It's up to you Mathew. The only difference will be a few weeks in when you get your runner beans - and you will get plenty - and how you feel about it.
Last year I planted early and got caught with late frosts. I had the beans out and all wrapped in fleece like ghosts. They were fine and I got early beans. This year, I haven't planted yet. I'll wait a few more weeks for the beans.
Good luck.

[terrier]

The runners must have known we were talking about them. When I let the hens out this morning, I noticed the first few shoots coming through the compost.

[rustylady]

Mine have taken about 10 or 12 days to germinate. Main thing to remember once they are through they don't need to be too hot. You can stand them outside during the day and bring them under cover at night. This should stop them getting too tall and floppy.

[matthew77]

Thanks you all for the sound advice, I think I may repot half in bigger pots and plant the other half direct into the ground.

If the frost nabs them I have only lost have. I will also sow some more in case the worst happens (As I have tons of seed). I have a friend who will take the surplus off me.

I have my ground prepared, was filling my bean trench up until february. (This was again down to the advice recieved on this awesome forum).

All in all, they have been enjoyable so far I am only sorry I didn't get my 4 year old niece to help. The quick growth should have quenched her gardening impatience.