Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi to everyone I have taken on an allotment in the last 5 weeks and have cleared the plot thankfully it was recently worked.

I am looking for advice on how and when to plant beans and peas. I have some dwarf beans plants in my mini greenhouse but think it is too early to plant out and also what type of support is needed.
I would welcome any advice.
Thanks

It's a bit too early to plant out your dwarf beans. In a couple of weeks you could sow directly into the soil if you like. I don't support dwarf beans but some people do. I find that if you put a couple of rows about 6" apart they support each other. Peas will need some support. Check they type you are growing - the packet will telll you how big to expect them to be. Some will wrap tendrils around each other and cope but most need either a net or some twiggy sticks - I use early spring prunings.

Welcome to the grapevine. You'll become addicted - I did!

__________________
Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake)

Hi Lottielady, welcome to the Vine. Lucky you having an allotment that wasn't a total wilderness or jungle. Peas can be planted now outside, they will need some support, either twiggy sticks or netting. It's a bit early for beans outside - you don't say where you are (you could amend your user profile to give a general location). Dwarf french beans generaly go outside in May (after the last frosts), also climbing french beans and runner beans. Broad beans are (as far as I know) the only hardy beans.

Thanks for the advice I shall update with any successes or failures

hazbeans are hardy as well aren't we LJ

Hi lottilady, welcome to the vine.

Congratulations on the new lottie it's really good isn't it. I sped a load of time down mine when I can and it's sooooo peaceful.

Dwarf beans won't need support ( unless you get a bumper crop ) and the runners & climbing french jobs I always sow mine in pots and plant out in about May -if you give it a couple fo weeks after planting out you can sow some more directup a wigwam and they'll crop a tad later extending the season.

Peas I'd sow about every 2 -3 weeks cos if you are like me we only get one boiling off a row and I eat the rest whilst I'm up the lottie ( Mrs Grief thinks I can't grow them cos the soils no good )

If you grow something like Hurst Greenshaft you won't go far wrong, they are a good pea and grow about 2ft - 3ft high abut 8 peas to the pod and they are nice & sweet.

It's time to sow stuff like brussels & purple sprouting soon aswell so don't forget them unless you can get them locally & save the hassle. (Marshalls do a good selections as well, 64 plants 8 of 8 varieties for about a tenner) Leeks can be sown now as well in a seed bed ready for transplanting and don't forget carrots ( I've got Chantenay & Amasterdam forcing thru & sowed some Yellowstone the other day)

And if you like Salads sow a few in a seed tray each week ( about 4 or 5 seeds) and transplant them at about 4 weeks old, that way you'll have a continuous supply rather than none for weeks and then 100 in a week

Same with beetroot as well.

Hope this helps

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

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Thankyou all for advice, I have been taken by the allotment bug and my husband thinks I am an allotment bore, still doesn't stop him fixing my shed

It won't stop him enjoying the excellent fresh grub either!

__________________
Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake)