My French beans...

[Bex]

Are still only 6 inches high, is this normal? My dwarf French are flowering but my pole French seem slow.


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[WendyC]

Did they get chilly at any point. Sometimes they stall if they do and never seem to get going again. When and where were they planted?

[mothhawk]

Dwarf French will only be 6 - 12 inches high, that's why they are called dwarf
That's why I don't grow them any more. Invariably the beans touch the ground and the slugs munch them.

[WendyC]

Dwarf French will only be 6 - 12 inches high, that's why they are called dwarf
That's why I don't grow them any more. Invariably the beans touch the ground and the slugs munch them.

But Bex was asking about her climbing beans which get to about 5' last time I checked.

[arpoet]

None of my climbing French beans seem to have any motivation to start growing up the poles. Runners are also a wee bit slow off the mark this year, but these will catch up i'm sure.

[chilli_grower]

All of my climbing beans are exactly the same, except for the cosse violette - they are very fast growers indeed.

[mothhawk]

My French beans...

Are still only 6 inches high, is this normal? My dwarf French are flowering but my pole beans seem slow.

But Bex was asking about her climbing beans which get to about 5' last time I checked.

Oh. I assumed as she didn't specify which were only 6" high, she meant both.

edit - etymology. I call climbing French beans "pole beans", but maybe Bex means runner beans and calls her climbing French simply "French"? In which case, yes, you're right Wendy, she is asking only about the climbing ones. I'll get me coat.

[WendyC]

Until Bex gets back to us we won't know for sure!

[lottie dolly]

everything planted outside seems to be slow taking of this year,toms and cues were the same,and are now going great guns,however,i have a few blue lake and a courgette in the poly,they are producing now,slowly,

[lottie dolly]

I take it to mean her french climbing beans are only 6in high at the moment,if so,they will grow,

[Bex]

I've both climbing and dwarf. The dwarf are fine and doing their thing it's the climbers I'm worried about. They were planted straight in the ground a few weeks ago, got to about 6 inches and don't seem to want to go any further.
I fed them yesterday so hopefully that will encourage them.


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[marchogaeth]

My climbing Frenchies have sat in the ground since planting out at about 5", looking shifty and pretending to be dwarves. The Borlotties took off last week and the Vale of Tears look like they are working up the energy to have a go today! I pulled up some dwarf Frenchies last week as they were smaller than when I planted them out! I think it has maybe been the range in temperatures over the last month or so that has made mine stall.

I expect some people will jump on this comment but here goes anyway. Although beans are legumes, they will still respond to Nitrogen. This is especially true before the root nodules develop but also true even when the nodules are well established. I give mine dilute pee when they first go in (as plants) and a little bit no and then to give them a boost if they look tired, just don't overdo it.

[Scarlet]

All of my climbing beans are exactly the same, except for the cosse violette - they are very fast growers indeed.

My favourite!

[Fleurisa]

Some of my French beans have reached the top of the canes but some planted at the same time have only grown about 2 foot, which is good because the crop will be staggered. The seeds sown direct are still pretty short, but I'm sure they'll get going eventually.

[BigV]

Feed your beans!
Mine started very slowly once I had planted them out.Pale and yellow! I have been feeding them with comfrey,seaweed.,chicken poo and any old feed lying around.They are now at the top of the canes,green happy and flowering.They are now getting a weak comfrey water as it hasn't rained for weeks.Water buts all empty!Hope it rains today.


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