Runner Beans

[milkybardave]

I have just put my runner bean seeds (Red Rum) into pots, for growing on the window sill, so they'll be ready for mid May planting out.

Feeling very pleased with myself, suddenly had a nagging doubt....

Is there a "right way up", when you put the seeds in, or are the little buggers clever enough to grow in the right direction, i.e. up?

[milkybardave]

[Robert_Brenchley]

They'll just grow up whatever you do.

[saddad]

As Rob says... if you put them in upside down the root goes round and the stem goes round until they are facing the right way...
If you are feeling vindictive you can sprout one and keep rotating it until it ties itself in knots!
;D

[Tee Gee]

They'll just grow up whatever you do.

I agree!! but strangely enough for the first time ever I found a water melon growing upside down yesterday.

What I think might have happened is; it must have germinated, the tap root went upwards then back down again as they can do, the leaves remained under the soil, and it is here I think the problem might have occurred!

I think the compost must have dried out a bit and dried the seed husk, the leaves were not strong enough to shed it  so the plant stopped growing (no light).

What I did was re-potted it (right way up), removed the husk manually so hopefully I have another plant to my stock

[tim]

Had exactly that yesterday with a Courgette.

[milkybardave]

As Rob says... if you put them in upside down the root goes round and the stem goes round until they are facing the right way...
If you are feeling vindictive you can sprout one and keep rotating it until it ties itself in knots!
;D

Thants very cruel, but I like it!! Hee Hee  ;D ;D ;D

[Trevor_D]

Had the same last year with a courgette. Just emerged upside-down. I left it to its own devices and it righted itself (but was definitely the runt of the litter).

With all beans I plant them scar side down; that's what I was told yonks ago & it seems to work. And melons & courgettes go on their edge.

But - as Tee Gee observes - it might be the compost drying out a bit. Modern (ie. post-peat) composts do, don't they? I've bought potting compost from several different sources this year and have noticed a much wider range of quality than normal. (Perhaps someone might like to start another thread on this one?)