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  • French Beans

    Just to dispell any myths (or mythsters) that I'm a complete know it all, it is coming around to the time to sow French Beans. This is my achillies heel, no matter what I do I can't get the little buggers to grow! They usually rot off for me. I've tried the damp paper method, sowing them in dry compost everything. I thbink part of the problem maybe the age of the seed, so I have been put & bought (yes, bought) a brand new packet of seed (The Prince) to try them yet again. Any tips will be greatfully recieved.

    Worried of Warwickshire
    Last edited by nick the grief; 25-03-2006, 04:41 PM.
    ntg
    Never be afraid to try something new.
    Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
    A large group of professionals built the Titanic
    ==================================================

  • #2
    Water the soil first and grow in 3"-5" pots, one seed to each and push down an inch, then cover with a propagator, as soon as they sprout transfer to greenhouse or warm coldframe. Go for climbing varieties as they are less of a problem, make sure the compost is well watered before planting, do not water until they appear. They also do well in loo rolls.
    Best wishes
    Andrewo
    Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

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    • #3
      I try that Andrew, I know they don't like the compost too wet. I've got some climbers as well nut we like 'The Prince' & as it's not an F1 I can save the seed for next year - Winner!!
      ntg
      Never be afraid to try something new.
      Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
      A large group of professionals built the Titanic
      ==================================================

      Comment


      • #4
        You can also try when you are digging them in, creating a compost trench, plenty of rotting veg and paper and then soil over the top - you can also dig in hops as they retain moisture but don't sodden the roots.
        Best wishes
        Andrewo
        Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

        Comment


        • #5
          I've got the largest pile of poo you can imagine Andrew! Compost isn't a problem. I'm OK once the litle buggers germinate, It's just getting them going that I have troubles with
          ntg
          Never be afraid to try something new.
          Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
          A large group of professionals built the Titanic
          ==================================================

          Comment


          • #6
            Nick I don't know why you have problems with french beans. All I do is fill cells with compost, put one bean on top of the compost filled cell and push the bean into the compost. Make sure there is some compost over the bean and then water.
            [

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            • #7
              If you have troubles, it could be the seed is too old, they don't last forever and spoil quickly.
              Best wishes
              Andrewo
              Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

              Comment


              • #8
                Thats what i was fast concluding Andrew. Hence I bought some new seed. I'll see how it goes this time. These are the only things I have trouble with. I sowed some Parsley a week ago and thats thru already, my grandma always said it had to visit the devil 7 times before it would come up!
                Last edited by nick the grief; 25-03-2006, 09:34 PM.
                ntg
                Never be afraid to try something new.
                Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
                A large group of professionals built the Titanic
                ==================================================

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi LJ,

                  I do exactly the same with my runner beans & they are fine. It must be because I hate the french
                  ntg
                  Never be afraid to try something new.
                  Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
                  A large group of professionals built the Titanic
                  ==================================================

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by nick the grief
                    Thats what i was fast concluding Andrew. Hence I bought some new seed. I'll see how it goes this time. These are the only things I have trouble with. I sowed some Parsley a week ago and thats thru already, my grandma always said it had to visit the devil 7 times before it would come up!
                    Dwarf can be a problem, I stick to the climbers, Sultana and Blaudhilde
                    Best wishes
                    Andrewo
                    Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Blauhilde can be bought at:
                      http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalo...oducts_id=1152

                      And Sultana at:
                      http://www.fothergills.co.uk/en/clim...ltana-307.aspx
                      Last edited by Lesley Jay; 31-03-2006, 12:10 PM.
                      Best wishes
                      Andrewo
                      Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Gonna try beans in rootrainers this year - normally start them in big yoghurt pots, never a problem, but I'm a suckers for gadgets....

                        We thought Blue Lake the bees knees when in Derbyshire, but they don't like the soil quite so much here....so we do Blauhilde too, good fresh or as beans and Goldfield (very good) and Borlotto di Fuocco (sp?).

                        Beans are easy

                        Oh just remembered we were late doing them the first year here, and I read something about starting them on a dinner plate on damp kitchen roll - worked, some sprouted in about four days and then we planted them out - a way to check out your old seeds too.
                        Last edited by smallblueplanet; 25-03-2006, 09:58 PM.
                        To see a world in a grain of sand
                        And a heaven in a wild flower

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                        • #13
                          Love the fact when you cook blauhilde they go from dark purple to a lovely green and you know they are cooked (they are great in salads and fantastic in paella and risotto). The only root trainers I use are loo rolls. Free and breakdown well in the soil.
                          Best wishes
                          Andrewo
                          Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Sorry ntg, but I just bung 'em in a pot and they grow, no special treatment at all and that's the dwarf french beans, last year i also put seed in the ground and again not a problem.
                            www.poultrychat.com

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                            • #15
                              No probs PC, I think its the seed that is too old (can't remember when I got it!
                              ntg
                              Never be afraid to try something new.
                              Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
                              A large group of professionals built the Titanic
                              ==================================================

                              Comment

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