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French beans
emma lou
Posts: 170
in Fruit & veg
I planted some french beans last year and they shot up in no time. I had masses in the beans box so this year have tried to grow some more, However I have only had 3 plants grow? Is it to do with the life of the beans in the box?
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Did you grow the beans yourself? To save beans for planting next year they should be dried on the plant. They say wait until they are brown and shriveled but mine never seem to get to that stage, meaning I have tried this several times with mixed germination results. Now I leave it to the professionals.
I agree. I grow climbing French Beans (usually Cobra) but I have had erratic germination from saved seed. So now I always buy new seed each year. Saves on the frustration and is much more reliable.
{ planted 30 French bean seeds about 10 days ago and they are in a propagator in the greenhouse not seeing any shoots either....
The Runner beans are doing the same and they were sown 2 weeks back.. Only 4 seedling from 20 seeds, they went mouldy..
Oh dear, how upsetting. I know that mice eat pea seeds, but surely not beans. Are they outside? Start them in house or greenhouse.
They need to be warm to germinate.
Beans can take ages in cold soil, as said, they do need some warmth. Some seeds do go off quickly, and should only be used when fresh. Chilli and parsnip are the obvious ones, no idea about beans.
Mice will eat peas and beans.
Beans will usually keep for years so long as they have been kept dry and cool.
I checked my beans in root trainers today, and lots have popped up and are about to unfurl the first leaves. I always get excited by beans, they have such huge seed leaves, unlike carrots et al. These beans went in less than a week ago, maybe 4 or 5 days gone. Why not try some in 3" pots - 1 per pot - or root trainers on a sunny window sill?
Thanks all. No I was growing them indoors. The odd one or two came up very quickly indeed but the rest have just not taken. It was a box of seeds that I bought last year and there were just too many to use last year, hence keeping some for this year too. Maybe it is too early for them despite the packet saying they can be sown from May?
I've cheated and bought some plugs, sitting in the greenhouse awaiting the end of frosts: anyone put their French Beans out yet?