French beans

[Bex]

Is anyone else having poor germination? I've got 2 wigwams and I've sown twice, I've still only got 5 seedlings I've run out of seeds now.


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[andy_j]

I've sown under glass. French climbing beans (Blue Lake) all came up. Dwarf French (Speedy), about 2 have come up and then rotted !!!!!

[crannman]

my french beans sown in greenhouse are slow to germinate managed to plant out around 10 another 10 or so nearly ready

[Nicos]

It may be too early still?We've had some cold damp nights recently.

I've only just sown mine in a warmer raised bed.

[redser]

It helps if you chit them first indoors. You can 100% germination that way (or close to it). Then pot them up and raise them indoors until it's nice enough out to put them in the open ground. Also helps as young seedlings in the ground can disappear over night, thanks to slugs. Larger plants raised indoors can survive a bit of nibblage.

[Bex]

I did try starting off indoors but got fed up as they didn't germinate indoors either. I had better success with the dwarves indoors but still only about 60%. I had no problem a couple of years ago and can't think what I'm doing different.

I might even have to go garden centre and buy some plants which I usually refuse to do out of principle.

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[redser]

What type of seeds are they? Are they new? Is there a best before date on the packet? Try Cobra if you can find them. 5 plants would give you more than you can use.
How did you try start them indoors - I chit mine by soaking them in water for 12 hours or so, then placing them on some damp kitchen towel on a saucer, which I cover with cling film. I place it somewhere warm in the house but out of direct sunshine and make sure the paper stays damp. Usually have them germinated and planted in compost within a week. They are showing through within another week.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Mine sown directly a good few weeks back are just "Rearing their Heads!"



Not 100% as yet! But still time!

[summer]

I have just sown again. This time in pots. Maybe I was too early last time or the slugs got them…as they did with my radishes and spinach.

[Bex]

What type of seeds are they? Are they new? Is there a best before date on the packet? Try Cobra if you can find them. 5 plants would give you more than you can use.
How did you try start them indoors -

They were cobra that my dad bought this year from kings. My mum then announced she didn't like French beans so I had them. You'd think he'd know after 40 odd years marriage lol.

I started in a module tray.




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[Chris172]

Hi

Started off both blue lake beans and lady DI runner beans off in peat pots in greenhouse for past two years and have had a great return, however this year I also lost some of my climbing beans blue lake and when split the peat pot they seemed to have rotted off but I quickly planted some more and they are fine.

I also experienced rotten courgette seed for the first time, however planted others and they are already ready to be planted

Happy gardening


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[Raybon]

I do mine indoors like this.
Wet some layers of newspaper, put on a tray. Spread beans out on top, cover with more wetted paper.
Keep moist by trickling a little water round the beans each day until you see them swell and sprout,then transfer to pots, roots down, (four in each is a good number) and plant out when about 4-6 inches tall.
This way you can see which have sprouted and are worth using.
Harden off before you plant out.

[arpoet]

They were cobra that my dad bought this year from kings. My mum then announced she didn't like French beans so I had them. You'd think he'd know after 40 odd years marriage lol.
I started in a module tray.

After 40 years of marriage the poor love is expected to forget thing from time to time... Now, what was I doing?????

[Bex]

After 40 years of marriage the poor love is expected to forget thing from time to time... Now, what was I doing?????

Have you been married a while? I tried it once and didn't like it lol


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[Florence Fennel]

I've had the same problem Bex and I too haven't done anything differently. I've sown 4 different types of dwarf French and only half germinated and the other half that have look decidely poorly! I planted some of the bigger ones out a couple of weeks ago, but the snugs got to them, so I may have to start again.