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I sowed 12 dwarf french bean seeds 3 weeks ago in 3" modules in my cold greenhouse, covered with a clear plastic lid. One, yes one, has come up and is about an inch and a half tall. When I dug around in a couple of modules I could find no trace of the seeds. I did soak them when I was going on holiday- could they have rotted away completely?

I had a similar problem. 7/12 white lady runners came up and only 1/12 cobra french bean. In cold polycarbonate greenhouse. I sowed another 12 yesterday and made very sure that I didn`t give them extra water. I soaked the beans for 1 hour first. I think they may well have rotted. I will force them next year, in the house. I opened the root trainers and could only find a few of the beans, the others had just disappeared

Yes bean seeds can rot easily and unfortunately white seeds more so than other colours.  When the soil is a tad too wet or too cold, they will succumb.  Sorry you lost your beans.

I lost a sowing of climbing french, Blue Lake, last year, they just vanished, I kept the compost a bit drier this year and they all germinated. I think it's just rot, if you had them covered it's unlikely to be mice - which is what I think took all my sunflowers this year!

Thanks- I'll sow some more tomorrow!

Quote from: caroline7758 on May 04, 2014, 21:56:01
Thanks- I'll sow some more tomorrow!

Forgot to say - don't cover the seeds with a lot of soil.  The merest dusting on top or even nothing at all.  Mine are usually barely pushed into modules, with the tops still showing.  Keeps them drier.

Good luck with the second sowing.

Oops, didn't read that last post until after I'd planted them! shouldn't they be at the same depth as if they were in the soil?

Quote from: caroline7758 on May 05, 2014, 16:03:30
Oops, didn't read that last post until after I'd planted them! shouldn't they be at the same depth as if they were in the soil?

No, because then the risk for rotting is greater.  If they are poking out the top, they might take an extra day to germinate, but they are not at risk of rotting. 

Ahh, I never knew that galina. Next time I sow, hopefully in 2015 if they germinate this year

What success do people have with sowing Dwarf French Bean seeds directly in the ground in May? I have done this over the years and had very variable results. I start my climbing French beans off in Roottrainers and then planted them out and these do OK? Any tips??