runner beans

[jock_edin]

I was looking for a pack of runner beans I collected at the end of the season, cant find them .  So had a thought, I never cut last years down, so went and pulled a few then potted them up.  Whats the chances of getting a crop with them being out all winter.

[jock_edin]

[Hugh_Jones]

Are you sure that they`re still alive, Jock?  If they are then there`s no reason why you shouldn`t get another crop off them.  However, the probability is that they`re stone dead - I know mine were.

[jock_edin]

admitedly plants were dead but the beans inside the pods looked good - not discoloured or anything. In fact they looked just like the ones I harvested last autumn.  What do you think

[Hugh_Jones]

Sorry, Jock, we had slightly crossed wires there.  I thought you were referring to pulling up and potting the old runner bean roots (it can be done, but usually needs to be done in late autumn).  I doubt whether the seed will be viable now, but you can but wait and see. If they don`t germinate in the next ten days or so dig one out and see whether there any signs of rotting.  At least, if they don`t grow you`ll have plenty of time to go and buy some more and sow them.

[jock_edin]

thanks hugh i will watch with interest, but i do have a good feeling about them

[philcooper]

Down here in N Hampshire about 50% of runner bean plants survive outside in the winter and will produce an early crop compared with seed grown plants

[kenkew]

Jock; try putting some of them on a double layer of tissue covered with another double layer. pour on barely warm water and put somewhere dark and warm. If they show signs of sprouting within a week then there's life, Jock, wouldn't you know it.