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Runner beans came up backwards

thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
in Fruit & veg
Hi, can someone correct me if I'm wrong but I've always just plonked bean seeds in the soil and they have found their own way up but this year, apart from one, a complete tray of runner beans (2 different varieties) have all come up root first, so I had to turn them over.
I thought that they could sense gravity and work things out themselves, geotropism I think it's called, but it's got me questioning things since mostly got it wrong. I've had the odd bean in other trays come up backwards but not more than a couple a year. 

I also had a dwarf runner bean come up completely golden for the first time. I'm not sure why but it has kept that colour and is completely healthy, just different.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is it because they're in trays rather than something deeper?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    @thevictorian no idea if this is a possibility in your case , but for my courgette seeds ( 4 individually sown  in small 3-4 inch pots) the two that got knocked ( one totally on its side , one just jolted heavily  -- neither  had  germinated above soil level at that stage but could have done so underneath at seed level) arrived roots up. One of those looked like it had tangled its seed leaves in some roots but was trying to come up. Is it possible an animal / stray football etc may have knocked your tray?
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    There wasn't anything that knocked the tray as they were planted inside on a windowsill. I have always planted them in normal trays and just transplant into a 9cm Pot when they are about 4" high to grow on. It saves a bit of compost and has never failed in my memory. 

    I know cubits are best planted on their side but I've not seen anything (although admittedly never looked because I've not had a problem before) about how to plant beans. In truth this isn't much of a problem because I just pulled them out and flipped them over which they didn't seem to mind. It's just a bit puzzling.

    These were my own collected seed from last year and germination has been near 100%. I haven't had the same result with some store bought seeds this year though. 
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