Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Runner beans and climbing beans have stopped growing - help!

I've always been very successful when it comes to growing runner beans/climbing beans but the last few years have been a disaster.

I've sown seed inside and planted out when the weather has been good but then they stopped growing.

So the following year I sowed directly into the soil - they came up quickly & robust but then after 3 inches stopped growing. It took me 3 sowings to get any results.

This year I sowed directly into the soil again, got a couple of inches of good healthy growth and once again they have stopped growing (this was BEFORE our heatwave).

It is new seed every year and I've tried different varieties, the soil is good with plenty of organic matter, good slug control (beer) and well watered (hosepipe).

I'm obviously doing something wrong but what? Could it be the cold water from the hose? (I know the lovely Mr Monty Don said beans must be transplanted out when the soil warms up other wise they "stall" and stop growing 'cus of the shock of the cold soil.)

Are my beans ever going to start growing again or should I just cut my losses and rip 'em out?

Does anyone else have this problem?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No idea but I would advocate patience for a while.  Plenty of time for them to start growing if you water them thru hot spells.

    I sowed some direct and they didn't even germinate despite warm soil and lots of rain between sunny spells.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    My runners came up ok this year and are doing well so far, but I've sowed 100+ dwarf french beans in 4 batches since May and I've got about 12 plants.... not had this happen before.
    I blame the weather or my dog - as I do for most things

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Keep watering. My plants seem to have a lot less leaf than usual, but we had the first french beans off yesterday.
  • Denise-3Denise-3 Posts: 2
    Little black beetles are eating all my runner beans help !! 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    There are  a lot of pollen beetles about this year.
Sign In or Register to comment.