Runner beans not germinating

[Marb67]

Well, I absolutely cannot believe that this year ALL my different runner bean varieties from different companies have NOT germinated. Nothing. Looking in the soil/compost mix they have rotted or split in half. This has never happened before! I mean it's warm weather and had to keep the modules hydrated as they dried out. Now it's too late to sow more.

So many no shows from old and brand new seeds this year, Same for other people i've talked to.

[Peanut]

Its not too late to sow more! I haven't sown my climbing french or runner beans yet as the nights are too cold for them outside to germinate and I need to free up space inside. I'll get mine sown this weekend hopefully.

[Nicos]

I’ve not sown my climbers yet either.

[Marb67]

Its not too late to sow more! I haven't sown my climbing french or runner beans yet as the nights are too cold for them outside to germinate and I need to free up space inside. I'll get mine sown this weekend hopefully.

I think you might be right there as they are outside (including French beans) which also haven't come up. That said, I have had earlier sowings in April previous years germinate no problem. Also, it's not been that cold at night in Cheshire except last evening.

[Nicos]

Have a furtle Marb …I found mine rotted before germinating if it was too cold at night

[Marb67]

Have a furtle Marb …I found mine rotted before germinating if it was too cold at night

Yep, rotted. You have to water them to stop drying out. You just can't win.!

[Nicos]

Are you watering from below?

[smallblueplanet]

Our Moonlight runner beans, started in rootrainers, have been planted out for more than a week. They're climbing their bamboo canes.

[Mark Rand]

Our Moonlight runner beans, started in rootrainers, have been planted out for more than a week. They're climbing their bamboo canes.

You can go off people, you know?

[Penellype]

I have started Firestorm and Moonlight - the Firestorm have germinated, the Moonlight are rotting. Treated exactly the same - soak over night then put on damp kitchen paper until they root (or rot).

[smallblueplanet]

I have started Firestorm and Moonlight - the Firestorm have germinated, the Moonlight are rotting. Treated exactly the same - soak over night then put on damp kitchen paper until they root (or rot).

Yeah, sometimes different beans seem to react differently, maybe age, maybe conditions aren't quite right for them, maybe how they've been stored, and other times they all react the same!

[Jungle Jane]

Seven of my twelve have germinated on the bathroom windowsill,some seeds are slower than others of the same variety. I had to water the tops the other day because I can see there’s been movement,sometimes they struggle to come through when the compost top has dried.

[gardenhistory2]

my secret for bean is soaking them in warm water then dusting them
with inoculant. then planting in pots on on heat mat. you can alway
tel bad ones after soaking.

[ameno]

Soak the seeds overnight then pre-sprout on damp kitchen paper sealed in a tub somewhere warm. If the seeds are viable, they should produce roots in 5-6 days at the latest (most will sprout in 2-3 days).
If they never grow, or if they start to go slimy and smell bad within a couple of days, then they are bad seeds. Get a refund from the retailer.

It's basically the same story here as with your peas. Packet seed quality for peas and beans has declined across the board in recent years, and it's probably a good idea to start saving your own.

[Marb67]

Aaaaand again all newly sown and rotted in pots. Normal compost, no watering unless very dry and warm and yet here I am with another complete write off bar 1 and a very sickly bit of another coming up out of 23! All different packets in date and stored correctly. A lot haven't rotted but split in half.
Too late to sow more now. I have Never known this happen with runner beans in all the years of successful growing