Runner bean question

**piskieinboots** · 31-03-2009, 10:11 AM

It is too early really to plant them in situ and if you are thinking of potting them on to then plant them out in situ around May time - hum, I'm not sure they will be overly happy with all that moving around.

Methinks someone was a little over keen

as we all are

And welcome to the Vine

**Sanjo** · 31-03-2009, 10:12 AM

hello 21again and a big welcome to the vine. I have in the past started my beans too early and have had them twining round each other. I would have said (had it been your question!!) that no - don't sow them yet. However, since they are already 21" tall you do have a problem. Are they already tangled together. I assume from your post that you are actually going to grow the beans in the 12" pot?? They do need an awful lot of water and they can be hungry. I thought (and I may well be wrong as I have never done it) that the square foot gardening was in the ground. I expect somebody more experienced in this kind of gardening wil put us both right, but whatever you do - be careful when transplanting them beause at that tall you do stand the risk of breaking the stems. Good luck with it anyway. I look forward to seeing advice from other grapes. I would hold fire until then if I were you. Not much help really am I ?

**taff** · 31-03-2009, 10:25 AM

If you put them in pots, one pot is probably good for one/two plants, I've grown three in a 20" pot before, added stakes etc, but they were outside.
Inside, they'll just keep growing, so will either need the tops pinching out when they reach the roof, or trailing around on wires/string.
Square foot gardening is meant to be applied outside, one square foot pot will probably not support 4 runner bean plants, bearing in mind that outside, each plant has a square foot around it.
You could put them in pots, and pinch the tips out to make them artificially a dwarf (happened to mine last year when the rabbit attacked, but I ended up re-sowing in May and they were fine, still lots of time for growing left, and they lasted till October)
I'd probably just give them some support, a little wigwam type thingy, pinch out the tips when they get a bit bigger, leave them in the greenhouse for now, plant out when the frost risk has passed, and re-sow more outside next month.

**zazen999** · 31-03-2009, 10:29 AM

Hi 21 again.

I can't answer as I have no idea where you are.

Could you pop your location into your profile, so that we know.

thanks

**piskieinboots** · 31-03-2009, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

Could you pop your location into your profile, so that we know.

I'm not sure I would give my location away to someone with eyes* like that

Ignore me 21again

*redundant comment in anything between one hour and two days

**taff** · 31-03-2009, 10:32 AM

oops, I lied, there are supposed ot be 4 runners to a foot in sq.ft gardening....my apologies

**zazen999** · 31-03-2009, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by piskieinboots View Post

I'm not sure I would give my location away to someone with eyes* like that

Ignore me 21again

*redundant comment in anything between one hour and two days

It's this forum that made me this way. I used to be normal [remember the lips]...

**21again** · 31-03-2009, 12:02 PM

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I've just read the sowing directions on the back of the packet.

Oops! 'Sow indoors April' ! Yep, too early, I told you I was a newbie.

Well, I haven't the room to keep them on canes indoors and they do need something so I went and planted them in the 12" pot as I am sure I read 4 to a pot would be ok for square foot gardening.

Everything will be sown into pots as we don't have anywhere to grow as we have 2 patios with a lawn in the middle (was like that when we bought the place) and my husband doesn't want to dig any part of the lawn up until our daughter gets older.

As I only joined this morning I haven't had time to edit my profile yet, we live in North Staffordshire, I will have a go at editing later. Notice how I say have a go.

Below is a pic of the beans which I put in the mini walk in greenhouse a few minutes ago.

I will know next time to start later.

di · 31-03-2009, 12:12 PM

What a clever little idea with using the empty bottles as shelving/holder typethings!

**zazen999** · 31-03-2009, 12:18 PM

Quick...get it into top tips...or recycling...or somewhere!!!

**21again** · 31-03-2009, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by andi&di View Post

What a clever little idea with using the empty bottles as shelving/holder typethings!

Well I am only going to use it to put some of the smaller pots into but take a look at this site for some ideas.

JRP Recycling Plastic Containers

**HeyWayne** · 31-03-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by andi&di View Post

What a clever little idea with using the empty bottles as shelving/holder typethings!

What she said!

**21again** · 31-03-2009, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

Quick...get it into top tips...or recycling...or somewhere!!!

I managed to find Top Tips and put it in there, hope that is ok.

**piskieinboots** · 31-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

...[remember the lips]...

...do I

ever

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