Should I water my beans?

[supersprout]

I soaked my bush beans and planted them in the beds, watered well in the planting holes, and now they're up. It might be imagining, but I think they're looking a little thirsty :P
Given the scorchio and little rain forecast, would it be best
a) to give them a good soaking once a week, if there's no rain, or
b) let them find their own moisture deep down, and not worry if they look a bit shrivelled for a while?

[supersprout]

[Curryandchips]

If you have the water available, then a good soaking will not hurt, although make sure it is a good watering ... I don't have the available water, so will have to put up with the alternative ...  :-\

[jennym]

I don't water mine, but then I have good old London clay soil.  :)

[Curryandchips]

Just out of curiosity, did you water them  ;)

[supersprout]

No curry - if other peeps' can stand the hot dry weather, so can mine ;D It seemed from the replies that it was a 'nice to do' rather than a life-saver. I don't like to water except for planting time, but made an exception for the newly planted sweetcorn.

Sowed yet more beans where the garlic came up yesterday, watering the holes with much water - they were pre-plumped overnight too - and hoping that's going to get them started. I sowed a little deeper than normal, and covered with dry soil to (hopefully) minimise evap.

[Curryandchips]

Well everything on my plot has been well and truly soaked now, has the rain reached as far as you yet Sarah?

[moonbells]

I watered my French beans after planting a week ago, and watered them each evening too. They now are half their original number and what's left is basically fried!

:-(

moonbells (having to grow more of them)

[supersprout]

Ten days ago I sowed loads of bush drying beans - borlotti, mogex, montcalm and a couple of others (thanks jennym ;D). The borlotti have shot up as they always do, good as gold (though wizened). All the rest? Massive crop failure :'( Ordered more borlotti bush seeds today, I'll be planting with you in spirit moonbells.

And no, not a sign of rain here at all curry >:(

[cleo]

If the downpour here made it to where you are the question is now academic ;D

[supersprout]

No downpour here today, just very, very muggy >:( :P :'(

[saddad]

Direct sown beans, once they germinate should be able to fend for them selves, transplants can be a problem, in dry soil the roots tend to stay in the compost ball and will need watering regularly to stop it drying out...
8)

[supersprout]

Thanks saddad, I knew there was a reason why I prefer to direct sow!
So much to remember :-[ ;D