Topic: runner beans

[trotty]

Hi everyone, I have just got an allotment so new to all this. I have made one huge mistake already I have planted my :( ??? runner beans seeds in pots far too early and they have germinated and are about two inches tall already !!! should I plant out and cover with fleece to protect them from frost although I live in south east so not much frost now or should I throw away and start again a little later - could do with a little advice


cheers trotty

[manicscousers]

hiya, trotty, welcome to the site..bit early for runners i think but no doubt an expert will be along soon.. ;D

[RW]

They don't like any frost at all.

I just leave the old roots in the ground for several years but they don't spring to live until May.

[Jeannine]

Don't throw them away, can you get them into  bigger pots and maybe give them a little stick to climb around, I often don't put mine out till they are over a foot tall , keep them in a cool place..not frosty, just cool, that will slow them down a bit,it's a waiting game really, or if you havea huge pot plant some around the edges and give them some support, I use an obelisk, I then keep this pot in the greenhouse till the weather is really nice before it goes out,by that time they are almost flowering, we get very early beans that way.

2 things to think about, and don't worry we have all done it.

XX Jeannine

[Fork]

It will be at least a month before my beans go in.

Its far to cold and still a risk of frost for some time yet

[Sparkly]

They don't like any frost at all.

I just leave the old roots in the ground for several years but they don't spring to live until May.

So, you can grow these as perrenials?

[tim]

An iffy business - in my experience.

[Vortex]

I won't be sowing mine for a couple of weeks, should then be on schedule to go out in the second week in May.

[Thegoodlife]

plant in bigger pots, wait until they have 4 or more leaves on then pinch the tops out this will then or should sprout new side shoots from the base of the leaves this will slow them down a little

[RW]

If you have more beans left I would not worry about having wasted a few if they don't survive. Runner beans can produce large crops - you might have plenty with just a few plants.

So, you can grow these as perrenials?

Yes growing as perrenials works fine - saves the bother of planting seeds each year.

[trotty]

Hi everyone , thank you for your advice on my runner beans. I will try to keep them in larger pots and pinch out to hopefully slow them down and if they dont work out I will plant more at the end of April anyway. Thanks again I will let you know how I get on- please keep the advice coming !!

Em

[cornykev]

I planted mine at the end of May last year, it will depend on how hot it is though this year.  ;D ;D ;D