Is there a new alternative for Derris?

[shambayango]

When I first subscribed to GYO, I received a free edition of the Reader's Digest "FOOD from your GARDEN ALLOTMENT".

We planted runner beans early in the year and only 2 out of about 32 seeds germinated. We think the problem was bean seed fly and in the Reader's Digest book it says to sprinkle the seed drill with Derris but, of course, new EU rules have banned Derris. So what should we do next year?

Funnily enough we planted another lot of beans in exactly the same spot (pre-soaking them first this time) and nearly all of them came up and we're now getting a fantastic crop.

Shamba

[ginger ninger]

Hi Shamba, I use my own saved seed's, put them in 3" pots, wait till there big enough to plant out, hay pressto... Lots of runner beans, i've never soaked my seeds, i know some people do...but if it worked for you, which it sounds like it did, then thats what i'd do in the future...you'll find your own way of doing thing's. Good Luck xx

[shambayango]

Beans and bean seed fly

That's a good idea gn, if I have the space to do this. Hopefully we will be a bit more organised next year. This year I had a hysterectomy in March and then wasn't strong enough until about June to do anything. Hopefully, next year I'll have a whole lot of seedlings ready to plant out early.

Shamba

[ginger ninger]

Don't start too early or the frost will kill them off, I've even been known to pot them on into a larger pot so i don't risk loosing them, it can still drop very cold here, even in spring...you might be OK, I see your lower down the Country than me.

[Two_Sheds]

We planted runner beans early in the year and only 2 out of about 32 seeds germinated.

I doubt there was anything wrong with the seeds except it was too cold/wet for them early on.
Lots of us had problems with germination of beans this year ... to do with the weather.
http://www.which.co.uk/documents/pdf...ies-151468.pdf