hardening off french beans?

[aquilegia]

When will it be safe for me to harden off french beans under a fleece tent?

I live in greater London and have a small, sheltered garden, although it still gets subjected to frosts (had one last weekend).

I must've sowed them way too early. They are already about 2ft tall and I'm running out of windowsill space (again!)

(yes - I know Tim - I should've waited. I've made a note for next year!)

[aquilegia]

[Multiveg]

If you do put them out, and there is a frost forecast, perhaps you could keep some bottles of water amongst them - should slow down the rate of cooling. I haven't even sown any beans yet! Was thinking of doing the first sowing next week.
Have you got any of those 5litre water bottles? However, they aren't quite 2 ft tall!

[wardy]

If you take them outside to harden off and frost is forecast you'll have to bring them in again.  In - out, in - out  ;D 

[newchangeling]

In - out, in - out ;D

The A4A Hokey Kokey!

Probably not a good idea to shake 'em all about though.   ;D

Clare.

[aquilegia]

THanks MV. No bottles bigger than 2l. THe plants would've been too big for those weeks ago! That's why I was thinking fleece tent.

Wardy - I'm not very good at bringing things in again. I tend to forgot/not have time/lose track of the weather forecast!

I was going to say I'll do a trial with one or two planted out this weekend, but then I realised we haven't even started digging the bed yet. Oh heck. I think I can just about cope for another couple of weeks.

I've never grown french beans before so had no idea how early to sow them (obviously!)

Must learn to be more patient...

[Multiveg]

Well, at least you know what the plants look like! And you can germinate the seed!!!

[tim]

We sow 5/5 & put out 20/5. They still need fleece then! (650' up.)

[Mrs Ava]

The kids did some for me last weekend, but I won't dare put them out until the start of May.  My bean patch is an incredibly sheltered suntrap.  If you do bung them out, then a double thickness of fleece might be wise.

[NattyEm]

sounds a bit like me with a courgette hedge for a windowsill in the kitchen!