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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: potterfanpete on March 23, 2007, 21:27:36

Title: Soaking Beans
Post by: potterfanpete on March 23, 2007, 21:27:36
Hi, I have some french beans that I am going to plant soon. They seem very hard - would anyone reccomend soaking them prior to planting?
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: Tin Shed on March 23, 2007, 21:41:57
I have soaked old French and Runner beans in the past to check whether they would germinate to see whether it was worth planting them. I seem to remember that it worked OK and got reasonable germination, but I have never done it with new seeds.
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 23, 2007, 21:44:47
I've done it with peas, and now you've reminded me, I'm about to do it with sweet corn.
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: saddad on March 23, 2007, 22:39:23
A bit early for French beans yet Pete?
:-\
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: potterfanpete on March 23, 2007, 22:41:21
I did say soon - my deifintion of soon = next month or so :D They just look really hard though - almost like marble hard!
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: saddad on March 23, 2007, 22:48:06
Personally I don't soak French Beans first, broad beans and peas yes, FBeans and Runners no.... but it shouldn't cause a problem...
:)
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: potterfanpete on March 23, 2007, 22:48:58
okie dokie, will start them soaking now and plant them tommorow - thanks all :)
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 24, 2007, 09:37:48
I find this a bit early for beans; by the time planting out time comes, they've wrapped rthemselves around everything in the mini-greenhouse and get broken while I'm trying to disentangle them. Everything else goes in now, peas and beans next month.
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: tim on March 24, 2007, 13:42:37
Another genderless person without a location.

Sowing? If in Spain - yes, but otherwise not until mid-late April.

Hard, Pete? As they should be!

Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: Froglegs on March 24, 2007, 14:00:22
Quote from: tim on March 24, 2007, 13:42:37
Another genderless person without a location.

Sowing? If in Spain - yes, but otherwise not until mid-late April.

Hard, Pete? As they should be!


Got out ya bed the wrong side Tim. ::) ;D
Title: Re: Soaking Beans
Post by: Tin Shed on March 24, 2007, 14:57:39
Have just received some French bean  and Borlotti seeds today and on the sowing instructions it says to soak for half an hour before sowing.