I always soak the beans overnight before planting. Dried beans and peas take up a lots of water which they have to soak up from the compost otherwise. I like to sow them in modules or seed trays and plant them in the garden when they are big enough to withstand slug attack. Wherever you live, make sure they don't go out before the frosts are over. You can put them directly in the garden or allotment soil but do this in May. However, I find slug losses make this not worthwhile. This applied equally to climbing and bush beans, though as Alison says, you get a bigger crop from a small area with the climbing beans. They are also MUCH easier on your back which it comes to picking. Don't forget to try some varieties for drying. It's nice to use your own beans in a chilli or winter casserole. |