Both batches were from the same packet so I have ordered another one. I always sow my beans in April and keep the developing plants in the heated greenhouse before hardening off and planting out at the end of May. It gives them a head start. I plan to do the same with the climbing beans - if I can get the blessed things to germinate!!
I find broad beans easier than other beans. I soak my broad beans in water for a night before planting out in the ground. I sowed my packet of 22 seeds late December and all but 2 have germinated and now have flowers.
I tried green beans and pinto beans our first spring here but despite soaking, it was just too dry and none grew. Same with peas the following year tho I managed pea shoots in a window box. Don't like runner beans anyway and green beans are not a favourite veg so now I stick to varieties of brassicas that are hard to find here.
Beetroot and chard do well if I plant plugs but direct sowing of seeds doesn't work. Onions, shallots, garlic, salad leaves, fennel do fine as do soft fruits.
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)."
I bought sweetcorn from Kings last year, didn't have a single one Germinate. They sent me 2 packets. Incredible and earlibird. Have just sown them,plus Annabelle dwarf french,cobra climbing,all in all modules. I grew broad beans the past 2 years,autumn sowing,still got dreadful black fly. Not bothering again
Found some runner beans, Firestorm,in the back of the wardrobe when we bought new ones, collected by me 2019 Planted late good crop but awful black fly. Why do you soak the beans?
Broad beans are hardy so will germinate at much lower temperatures. Runners like cooler conditions than French beans which really need more heat. Further to that Fench bean seed really needs to be fresh, no more than 2 years, for the other two the seeds last years and years & still germinate readily. It's fun this gardening lark🙃
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I tried green beans and pinto beans our first spring here but despite soaking, it was just too dry and none grew. Same with peas the following year tho I managed pea shoots in a window box. Don't like runner beans anyway and green beans are not a favourite veg so now I stick to varieties of brassicas that are hard to find here.
Beetroot and chard do well if I plant plugs but direct sowing of seeds doesn't work. Onions, shallots, garlic, salad leaves, fennel do fine as do soft fruits.
Planted late good crop but awful black fly. Why do you soak the beans?