Allotments 4 All

When I plant my runner beans can I bury the lower stem like I can with tomatoes please?

Yes. I moved some of mine yesterday, and the lower stems were all growing roots. I planted some really dodgy-looking shrivelled seed left over from last year, most of it came up fine, and I'm using it to fill gaps.

Have you started planting them out?

I grow mine in empty loo rolls in a cold green house, if you think there will be no more frosts plant them out. Ileave mine until 1st may.
Tony.

My first runner bean plants went out yesterday, half of the batch remains in the greenhouse, some seeds went out last weekend and I am ready with more seeds to push in the ground if problems arise. I have just got back from the allotment and have opened all the frames to take advantage of the rain (3mm at 10:30 and counting). Hooray!

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

I've been afraid to sow until now. I am going to sow some in pots in my cold greenhouse today. I presume I haven't left it too late.

You can sow outdoors at the end of May.

I don't normally sow until the first week in May (in modules in the GH) & plant out mid or late May.

Mind you, the weather this year is a bit different, isn't it? Might sow next week. (If I've got room!)

Sowed mine two weeks ago. 18 pots but only four have come up. Last year they all came up. Too warm in the greenhouse? Soil too wet? All ideas welcome.

I'm new to this, and I'm not sure what to do for he best with peas and beans. I have one packet runner and 3 dwarf beans, I have 2 mange tout, one snap, and 2 garden peas.
I am not sure how many plants to plant, whether to stick to one type or try them all.
Any advice welcomed.

Hi, try the different varieties to find which you prefer. Don't sow too many at once and go for a succession. Whatever you do don't sow to many runner beans, they are as bad as courgettes and you will be swamped by them ;)

Yes, try them all!

Peas are hardy enough to go outside now. (I still sow in modules and then plant out because I've got problems with both mice & pigeons eating the young shoots.)

Runners: see previous discussion.

French beans: don't plant out yet as they need constant warm weather (but grow them in modules to plant out later).

Straight in the ground the weekend for me, if alls well weather wise.  8) ;D ;D ;D

Here is the photo of my planted runner beans, I am growing 4 varieties so not many of each. This shot is taken looking through my boundary at my neighbours plot.



The next is a whimsical picture of sunset over the Mersey (a thin pale strip near the top with The Wirral beyond) with the runner bean poles in the foreground. Some of the raised beds have modules with net over to protect the newly planted seeds from birds and cats. I managed to hide the sun behind the post.
Taken on 9th April



http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

It's a funny old world. Just one week ago everyone was taking the piss at me because I planted my runner beans out and now you all seem to have mulled over my logic and come to the same conclusion as I did.

The books are wrong. (Hopefully).

Ithink you are all doing this too early ! Especially if you are in a more northern area...you just know we could have more of that horrible weather and they,ll all be smashed to smitherenes !  I,ve only just sown mine cold greenhouse and the seed pkts say plant out end of May after all frost risk .
                                                           Be careful folks ! Rohaise   :)

After nearly planting mine out last weekend I'm glad I didn't! The metcheck forecast looks cold for the beginning of May! I pinched the growing tips to slow them down a bit and it seems to be working so far although they are looking very pot bound in the drinking fountain cups I have them in!

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/14days.asp?

mine are still in the seed tin, not even thought about sowing yet - maybe may BH weekend in the greenhouse

I don't know why you plant runner beans! except for the pretty flowers! A friend grew some and I found them to be yukky! We don't get them in Oz so I had never eaten them before and I don't want to experience it again! I am growing green dwarf beans and yellow "butter" beans - I have planted a row, it doesn't frost here at this time of year. I will plant a row a week to get a continuous crop.
Already have my peas and mangetout in, but I will sow a few more in May as I love peas so much! I'd like to have them all summer if I could. Can you plant peas later in summer for a crop in, say late September?? (OK, off subject, I know)

antipodes, young, fresh runner beans piicked when they are no longer than eight inches are very tasty with a nice texture ;). Picked at 12" to 18" long as so many of them are I agree with you, they are not worth eating 8)