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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: aquilegia on April 14, 2005, 16:18:20

Title: hardening off french beans?
Post by: aquilegia on April 14, 2005, 16:18:20
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!)
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: Multiveg on April 14, 2005, 17:08:32
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!
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: wardy on April 14, 2005, 17:10:27
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 
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: newchangeling on April 14, 2005, 17:14:55
Quote from: wardy on April 14, 2005, 17:10:27
In - out, in - out ;D

The A4A Hokey Kokey!

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

Clare.
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: aquilegia on April 14, 2005, 17:15:54
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...
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: Multiveg on April 14, 2005, 17:41:47
Well, at least you know what the plants look like! And you can germinate the seed!!!
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: tim on April 14, 2005, 17:58:48
We sow 5/5 & put out 20/5. They still need fleece then! (650' up.)
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 14, 2005, 18:01:06
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.
Title: Re: hardening off french beans?
Post by: NattyEm on April 15, 2005, 19:50:14
sounds a bit like me with a courgette hedge for a windowsill in the kitchen!