Climbing French Beans - sowing failure

[oldmoondog]

I kept the seeds from last years crop and kept them in the garage in a dark corner in a jar. In April I sowed two seeds to each pot indoors (two dozen pots in all). Over half germinated and were growing quite healthy. At the end of April I hardened them outside for a night, brought them back in and within a few days noticed the leaves curling at the edges. Needless to say I have lost them all. I reseeded a fresh bunch from the same seed pot and left them in the potting shed, but not one of them have germinated. The same compost was used for both.
I think the first ones got too cold although the temp never dropped below 8-10 overnight.
I am at a loss as to what happened to the second lot. I still have some seeds left and am considering just sowing them outdoors at the end of May and see what happens. I do have a stand by from the local "pick your own" site who sell off their excess plants.
Yours bemused in Hampshire!

[nickdub]

Not sure what's happened to cause the problem - I don't think the cold at the temps you mention can have been any more than a contributory factor.

If I was in your shoes I'd put the remaining seeds in an ice-cream tub or similar somewhere warm to chit. Then when they started to show, I'd sow them directly in the soil. By the time they are through the temps should be consistently warmer hopefully.

[DannyK]

Did you give any bottom heat?

Gave my Cosse Violette, this year's seed, 24C and they're 6"+ high inside a week.

[veggiechicken]

Have you dug up any of the seeds to see if they're rotting - or even eaten!

[oldmoondog]

Not sure what's happened to cause the problem - I don't think the cold at the temps you mention can have been any more than a contributory factor.

If I was in your shoes I'd put the remaining seeds in an ice-cream tub or similar somewhere warm to chit. Then when they started to show, I'd sow them directly in the soil. By the time they are through the temps should be consistently warmer hopefully.

Sorry what does "chit" mean?
do you put them in any compost in the ice cream tub?
Regards

[veggiechicken]

Have a look at https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ans_96264.html

[nickdub]

Sorry what does "chit" mean?
do you put them in any compost in the ice cream tub?
Regards

Chit is just a gardener's term for germinate - no compost in the box, just a folded piece of kitchen roll and enough water to get the job done - sometimes you have to add extra water as the seeds absorb a lot, but obviously don't drown them.

[SarrissUK]

Every single yellow french bean that I sowed a few weeks ago got eaten by something. They've vanished completely out of the pots. It's a bit strange, because I have seven cats, most of which are hunters! I've sown more, because I love them beans!

[nickdub]

can you rig up a temp shelf suspended somewhere with string, so the pots are more tricky to get at ? (I've got all sorts of animals around, and that's what I usually have to do)

[Paulie]

I kept the seeds from last years crop and kept them in the garage in a dark corner in a jar. In April I sowed two seeds to each pot indoors (two dozen pots in all). Over half germinated and were growing quite healthy. At the end of April I hardened them outside for a night, brought them back in and within a few days noticed the leaves curling at the edges. Needless to say I have lost them all. I reseeded a fresh bunch from the same seed pot and left them in the potting shed, but not one of them have germinated. The same compost was used for both.
I think the first ones got too cold although the temp never dropped below 8-10 overnight.
I am at a loss as to what happened to the second lot. I still have some seeds left and am considering just sowing them outdoors at the end of May and see what happens. I do have a stand by from the local "pick your own" site who sell off their excess plants.
Yours bemused in Hampshire!

Hi. It's hard to be sure, but my guess is that it is the cold that's caused the problem. I would advise that it is best to harden off plants by putting them outside during the daytime rather than at night when the temperature drops. It has been a peculiar spring, with cold spells interspersed with warm days. I'm still learning after a number of years growing vegetables. But I still make the mistake of letting my excitement get the better of me and sowing seeds too early. I did it again this year - with French beans as it happens. The ones I sowed in early April are still sulkin, whereas the ones I showed on 1st May have overtaken them.