French Climbing Bean Cobra germination

[Headfry]

keep trying Peanut, Cobra are well worth it. I have never had probs with Cobra- so far!
don't give up!

[peanut]

So blauhilde has come up but still no Cobra? Have you thought it may be duff beans?

Yeah I am wondering if it's a duff batch....if this lot don't show by the weekend I'll sow more Blauhilde and chuck the Cobra.

Headfry: if they don't make an appearance by the weekend it's compost for them!

[Pootle]

Sorry Peanut - my Cobra (planted on Thursday evening - 8th May) are all peeking their heads through even though they weren't planted quite deep enough. They've been outside in a plastic grow house thingy, with the door open during the day for the tomatoes...the sweetcorn, planted at the same time are also just sprouting.

So perhaps it is a duff batch of seeds? Mine came from DT Brown - I know you won't want to name and shame but I'd contact the seed company if you're having no success

[Flummery]

Yup, sounds like the seeds!

[smallblueplanet]

Yup, sounds like the seeds!

They must be really duff, I've just checked our blauhilde (now 3 showing in 5 days) and they were bought in 2000!

[thecornflake]

I grew blue lake last year, and a dwarf variety I can't remember the name of. This year Cobra and Safari, with 100% germination. I started them in seed trays in my plastic greenhouse outside, no pre-soaking or cutting into the seeds, and they took about 2 weeks to appear. They were planted around the 19th April, now in pots and about 4 inches high. I frequently forgot to water them enough as well.

I didn't realise people had trouble with beans germinating, so I'd guess it's a dodgy or out of date batch. I can probably send you a few of my seeds if you like, I'm limited for space so I can only grow a few.

[peanut]

I've still had no luck germinating these wretched Beans!!

My Blauhilde are doing well so I have resigned myself to the fact that it's not me and the Cobra were a duff batch so this morning I've emailed T&M to complain and ask for a replacement pack

[mountaingirlee]

Being a novice is easier!

Having my own greenhouse is a first for me.
I found a pack of cobra french climbing beans and read the instructions.As I have a problem retaining alot of info,I put the dry un-soaked beans into individual 2" pots with a potting-on compost.I covered them with 1cm and watered them.Every day I would water the others and sprinkle them too.I planted 15 and 12 came up.They are now 6" tall and roots are beginning to come through the bottom of the pots!
I have laid the next lot of cobra beans onto the surface of the compost & keeping them well-watered till they germinate,as I don't see why they shouldn't either.
I think you've been extremely unlucky and must try with another type of compost.I had planted lettuce into top soil and they were yellow and slow,but once I'd planted them into compost they turned green & started to grow really fast.I now have 10 in 10" pots which are more than a foot across!,approx 50 in 4" pots & 100 small seedlings nearly ready to pot-on.
I did lose a cucumber and think it was too wet as it was on the shelf below them.The squash is racing on though.
Do any of you live in Cheshire? I'm near Sutton Hall.

[billybean]

germinating french beans

We have found that french beans are susceptible to wet rot. If you soak them before planting only soak them for 4 hours. Plant in moist but NOT WET compost, we use 15 cell trays filled with regular seed compost.
Plant one seed in each cell and keep above 20 deg C. and in full sunlight, place on old bit of carpet and keep this wet but do not put calls in water. They usually germinate over 90% in about 8 days. Just keep moist and plant out when weather warm. Best bean for us has been COBRA climbing bean grown up regular double row of rough wood batten to about 6ft. So much easier that low ground beans, just as tasty, heavier crop for longer and wonderful flavour, totally stringless, freezes well, best undercooked so eaten al dente.