Allotments 4 All

I've had a bit of a disaster this year with my runner bean germination. Is it too late to so more?

barkingdog

I don't think so barkingdog, we've got scarlet emperor and it says you can sow outdoors from may to mid july.

I sowed ours about 3 weeks ago in pots and they're now about 3 - 4" high, and straining out of their tiny pots - must put them in the lottie this weekend, if it stops raining long enough... ::)

Thanks for your prompt reply! I shall sow some more today!  ;D

barkingdog

I was a bit over excited at being able to actually answer a question for a change and hit reply immediately  ::)  bless me  ;D  ;D  ;D

On advice (on A4A probably!) last year I planted my runner beans out and at the same time sowed another seed in between.  These new ones caught up really quickly and I was grateful for them as just after planting out we had some cold winds which I think put my established plants back quite a bit.  Meant to get mine in yesterday but didn't manage it - pouring here in E. Anglia now and looks grim for a few days...  :-\

Quote from: amanda21 on May 27, 2007, 09:02:18
Meant to get mine in yesterday but didn't manage it - pouring here in E. Anglia now and looks grim for a few days...  :-\

I too am in East Anglia (Norfolk) and the weather is pretty awful  :( Although it's not raining yet!!!

barkingdog

We've had terrible problems to with runner bean germination so we planted seeds outdoors yesterday.  Green and yellow.

Fingers crossed. 

Sand

I normally sow my beans the second week of may in pots, then at the end of July I plant another seed on each cane. On a good year I can get beans through to November, the latest I have picked beans is November 9th.

I sow direct in June and have even done so as late as early July. excellent crops both ways.

When I was working, the runner never got sown until half-term (ie. this coming week) and they always did well.

And I generally reckon to keep picking well into November (early December one year).

Am hoping to sow mine this week too. Sometimes I think starting them off inside is ok if you have plenty of room but suddenly I get sick of those pots on my windowsill. When I have my huge green house it will be different ;D

These messages have all cheered me up a lot - my runners were eaten by snails and replacements are only just starting to emerge. So it's good to hear they might still crop well.

Still plenty of time to sow more runner beans in time for a second crop in Autumn.

Im lucky that all but one of mine(bar one)germinated this year.More than I can say for previous years.

My only germination problem was with sweetcorn,however,the second sowing was fine.So what happened the first time ? :(

I'm overrun with runner beans now.  The first lot in root trainers only a few germinated and half of htose were eaten by slugs and snails.  So I sowed seeds next to all the canes, and they didn't come up.  So I put another lot in root trainers.  The second lot have all germinated, and are coming up well, so are the ones in the root trainers.  Will find a home for them somehow.

Wish I could say the same for the sweet corn.  Usually have close to 100 percnet germination, this year from three sowings we have four plants.  Must be duff seed.  :(

I always chit my beans first by dampening some kitchen roll and placing it in a sandwich box , i then place my beans on top and cover! put it in a warm place! approx 5 days later they germinate. Pot them up as normal! works every time!

As with all tender crops, the earlier you plant the greater the risk of disaster. Even today, 28th May on the Mersey Riviera, 4C is forecast for tomorrow night, that means that if you live a couple of hundred feet higher, then there is a danger of frost.

Even if you get a good run of weather, late plantings rapidly catch up due to the longer days, higher UV radiation and warmer temperatures. If you look at the photo on my site on the right, taken on 1st July last year you will see beans that were sown on the 7th June.

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

You will find that a planting of beans or courgettes etc now will soon catch up.

Well I'm still hoping to eat my first proper meal of fresh runner beans round about the third week of June. Earlier I said that plants would reach the top of the wigwam by the end of May but now I think that they will be one or two days late. The first flowers are fully open although these never set. 8)