Planting French beans in the greenhouse

[mark1860]

When would be the cut off date for planting French dwarf beans in the greenhouse?
Also- can you plant runner beans in the greenhouse? I read you should do them outside because they are pollinated by insects but French beans are fine in the greenhouse because they are self pollinating.....

thanks for all the useful replies really helpful !!!!

[Scarlet]

I think it's quite late now to start some off, though it's worth a try for a small crop but I would get them in now. See VC's thread
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...fbs_86428.html

I started off an early crop for the greenhouse this Spring, seeds were sown on 18th March indoors in a prop, planted out in the GH border when they were a good size. My first harvest was around 23 May - so they took roughly 8 weeks. Daylight hours will be less in Oct so you may not have a huge crop. All depends on how warm and fast they will grow in Sept. Always worth a shot though.

[veggiechicken]

Try sowing DFBs in the GH, Mark. Nothing to lose except a few seeds if it doesn't work!

I wouldn't bother with runner beans in the GH because of the pollination issues but you can get Firestorm and its white equivalent which are self fertile runner/French bean hybrids. I grew those in the polytunnel last year and left the roots to overwinter. They've regrown this year and are covered in flowers. Still waiting for the beans though

[mark1860]

thanks, very useful

will definitely try those hybrid runners in the greenhouse next year ....