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I think I must've sowed my runner beans too early as they already look ready to go out. They are about 1ft tall. I only sowed them about 2 weeks ago.

What to do? Put them out and hope I can protect them from cold (if so how?) or pot them up? Or leave them where they are?

I lost all my `for sale` plants in the frost a few days ago,but kept enough in the greenhouse as opposed to a cold frame for me.

I`m going to risk planting them out this week.

will they be alright left in root trainers?

I'm in greater london. I should've said that before. We've had a few chilly nights, but no frost since march.

Do not worry aquilegia, mine are just poking their heads above ground after the frost the other night.
They will catch up as will other crops.

I lost most of mine in my cold frame last week, so have had to resow.  The only thing is I can't find the rest of the 'scarlet emperor' ones I sowed, so am trying another variety instead.

It is just about possible to keep runner beans safe from frost but you have to watch the weather forecast and be ready to rush out and cover them up.  Cold wind even above zero can be a problem.   

The weather forecast can be wrong by as much as 6 degrees do you have to cover them up much more than necessary just in case.  In the past I have had good result from covering the entire wigwam in cling film but it is a very touch and go business, last year I managed to cook some on a warm day by not removing the cloches.   

Other methods are covering the  rows in anything you can find, newspaper, old sheets, flleece if you have it or plastic dust sheets.  Problem is it has to be done each risky night and taken down in the morning.  Do not trust the weather forecasts.   The frost creeps along the ground so you did not need to cover over the top, so I peg mine up the sides. 

You are lucky if you have had not frost we have had two quite bad ones recently.

I have planted out some this week but it is a gamble and sometimes I loose.  Mine are covered in 5ltr bottles at night.   Do make sure you harden off the plants well before you put them out, I am sure that if you put the plants outside at the moment during the day their growth will slow down.


I think I would pot some up and plant some out and sow a few more just in case.   

mine are out  now in the weather  there quite tough and will stand a little frost   wind is worse now rips um up

i was going to ask about runner beans.

My own having been replated after loss to frost will be kept in till they absolutely have to go out.

However my dad has some that are about an inch and half high, theve come up since friday. He is in hospital havign ahd a heart attack and is determined to get straight back into doing his garden after his angioplasty.
I was thinking of trying to get the out before he cam out of hospital but I dont want to lose them for him. im thinking I may have to confiscate them and bring them back a week later :)

I planted one bean cos wife said too early, one frost and it was murdered in cold blood!

Well I think it is dead although it had a coke bottle over it.

Frost could go over the top of protected stuff as the wind chill swirls over in the breeze.

Down south now I would take the chance as I don`t think we are going to get any more frosts but its just a guess.

Dont blame me!

I think the old plottys say 5th may put seed in, I think that is too late but I may be wrong.
How long does a seed in the ground take to come up???

good grief I am in Lancashire and have had mine, started in the greenhouse and planted out for over a month. (they are fine)

I do it every year and then grow extra, later, just in case of the need to replant. Frost victims. Other people will usually take surplus so why worry.

Not necessary I know but then I am me.

I think it depends on where you are but we once had a frost 6th June and it was very widespread!!     Actually we are quite a long way from the sea and Benson in Oxfordshire is rather surprisingly often the coldest place in the country at this time of year.   Coldest temperature at Brize last night was 6 so at ground level at the lottie it was probably only 2 or 3 which is rather close for comfort.   Frittenden in Kent was only 3C the previous night so maybe some of that area got a ground frost. 

Even if they survive it rather sets them back and slightly later beans soon overtake. 

One of the problems with coke bottles is that the beans can get too hot during the day.  My dwarf beans survived quite a frost in bottles but lost any leaves which were touching the bottle.

Well now I'm thoroughly confused!  ;D

I think I'll plant out some of the bigger ones and see how they cope with being wrapped up every night. I've got more seed, so can sow more later if necessary.

I haven't even sown mine yet..I never do until middle of May. We always get late frost here and I cannot be asked going through hassle with protection.  And every year I've started picking my beans maybe only week or two later than those neighbours that started theirs earlier.
As I grow plenty of other beans too that will crop much earlier so being 'late' for runner bean party is not big deal. I get 'sick' of the party in few weeks anyway... ;D There is only so much one can eat one type of veg...

Aquilegia ...I would sow some more just incase :-\ or you could pop another bean direct in the ground next to where you plant your beans.

I agree with Goodlife  ;) I sow my runner/french beans in May. I find them less hassle sowing at this time. they don't get tangled up in each other...they are easier to take to the allotment because they are shorter...easier to transplant and no winding the already tall beans around the bean pole. Most vegetable catch up with those sown earlier.

I will be planting my runners out this week. but I will plant a seed as well as  insurance, also I put up a wind break completely around the row.

I definitely need to put a note in my diary to sow them later next year!

Put all ours out yesterday. Had been growing for a month in polytunnel.

We're probably the last on our site to put them in !!!!

We had a frost again last night!!  It is now a lovely lovely sunny morning glad I had my beans etc covered.