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Beans in jars

KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
in Fruit & veg
I'm growing Broad and Soya beans in jars, with just some kitchen roll and water.  They are all shooting profusely, but no leaves yet.  At what point do I transfer them into soil?  I know I should know this from having done this at primary school, but it was a very, very long time ago.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    You can plant as soon as they have germinated.  The leaves are inside the old bean at the moment and that will be pushed above the surface once the roots have something to get hold of.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Thanks @BobTheGardener  I can't believe we didn't try this method a few months ago (and only did so when we saw an item about it on GW recently).  We had planted loads in compost, and some in the ground at the allotment, and only 1 germinated.  100% of the beans in the jar have germinated, so we'll always use that method in future.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I've had to use a lot of old seed here this year @KeenOnGreen and bean germination from those has been erratic, so I might do the same as you next year.  I tend to use root trainers, so if only a few out of a batch germinate, it's a waste as there is no easy way to remove and replace the rotting seeds without disturbing the growing ones;  Planting pre-germinated seeds into the trainers would be ideal.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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