Don't put your beans out yet!

[nelliegemini]

I've just checked the long range weather forecast on the Met Office, just out of curiousity! It's set for the North West but I think this covers the whole country.

UK Outlook for Monday 23 Mar 2009 to Wednesday 1 Apr 2009:
On Monday southern and central areas will be dry and bright but cloud and rain, followed by showers, will spread southwards to reach all but the far south by Tuesday evening. By this time the air will have become cold enough for the showers to turn to snow to low levels, and there may be some significant accumulations of snow on the higher ground in the north during Tuesday and Wednesday. There is also a risk of gales in the north. Thursday looks likely to be drier and brighter but cloud and rain, with snow on northern hills, is expected to return on Friday. We can then expect mainly unsettled conditions going into the following week, with generally below average temperatures bringing a continuing risk of snow to higher ground.

[FionaH]

I knew it was gonna get colder, but snow???!!!

[Alice]

We could get frost and snow anytime til end of May - but doesn't mean that we will. Sometimes we get lucky. But we do have to watch the forecast.

[maytreefrannie]

how about if beans are protected by fleece, would it be OK to put them out? I'm thinking of planting out a few broad bean plants I started in a pot.

[Growem]

Remember last year it snowed in the first week of April in lots of the country.

[FionaH]

Remember last year it snowed in the first week of April in lots of the country.

True, I got stuck with half a tonne of macaroni cheese I had made for eldests (cancelled) rugby match!

[Capsid]

how about if beans are protected by fleece, would it be OK to put them out? I'm thinking of planting out a few broad bean plants I started in a pot.

Broad beans are very hardy and will survive frosts and snow even without protection.

[Flummery]

My french beans never go out till June here anyway.

Broadies sown in modules are hardening off as we speak and I'll sow more directly in the ground (when I've finished the endless chicken run project!) But the tender ones - whoo, hold on to them. I haven't even sown them.

[abby]

Can you not put french beans out with fleece because I have up till now but last night had to get up at unearthly hour because I had forgot the poor things and one looks very sad today...Am I a bad person ? :@(

[Flummery]

I suppose you could - but I don't. All fleece will do is stop the frost killing them. They won't grow. And it can blow off. And you can forget to put it on!

[jacob marley]

A chap on our site planted some Runner Beans plants out 2 weeks ago and they are still standing .
The slugs have had a few though he is a newbie and was told.he was 6 weeks early .. jacob

[allotmentlady]

Do u think its safe to put runner/french beans out yet, they are going loopy in the greenhouse........

[Two_Sheds]

Do u think its safe to put runner/french beans out yet, they are going loopy in the greenhouse........

Read the first post !

No - not if it's still cold (which it is, at night). Sure, a frost may not kill them if they're fleeced, but they don't LIKE the cold ... they will suffer a check to their growth and may never catch up.

I'm not a smart - ar3e.

I learned the hard way.

[allotmentlady]

Read the first post !

No - not if it's still cold (which it is, at night). Sure, a frost may not kill them if they're fleeced, but they don't LIKE the cold ... they will suffer a check to their growth and may never catch up.

I'm not a smart - ar3e.

I learned the hard way.

neither am I and I need to go back to specsavers

[Alice]

Allotmentlady, I don't plant my beans til the beginning of May as I know I can't plant them out until the end of May. With beans late is good.