Runner beans not germinating

[Andraste]

I've had a proper hit & miss year with peas & beans this year. I've pondered on all the different reasons (me, the seed, the compost, soaking etc.) & have come to the conclusion that it's just one of those gardening mysteries that get thrown at us.

However, chatting with mum the other day, she mentioned ages back that a direct sowing of runners did basically nothing - she sowed more in trays in the greenhouse & planted those out at least a fortnight or so ago - then this she weekend noticed some of the direct sowing are popping up! Made me think that maybe the earlier lovely daytime weather we had was awesome but the night time temps haven't been consistent & have dropped quite low here at times.

Anyway, enough of my rambling! Maybe have a dig in 1 or 2 of the modules & see if the bean has rotted first then, assuming there are beans still there to germinate, I'd keep them moist & see what happens - they might still decide to pop up.

[Marb67]

It's the same with peas for me. Just sowed some mangetout and very few have germinated from anew packet. I have heard from a nurseryman that using garden soil in pots is how he germinated his runner beans. I might try that again as it used to work.

[Andraste]

Got to be worth a try Marb - it's the best way to find out what works best for you I've noticed my peas/beans certainly haven't all popped their heads up at the same time this year - in the past they've been a few days apart but 1-2 weeks hasn't been unusual this year.

[Nicos]

We’ve just sown more runner beans due to a poor show…plus more french climbing and dwarf beans due to poor germination.
Interestingly though ….those accidentally spilled on the bark chippings path are coming along nicely

[Andraste]

That's just typical isn't it! Can you get them out & transplant?

[Nicos]

^^^^ I guess I could try but , tbh, we have such a small number of plants this year compared to previous years, that I just don’t want to risk killing them!
We can step around them….

[sholtsgate]

Hi guys I was having same problem with my french/dwarf beans this year l thought it was me overwatering/underwatering to hot to cold then see others we having trouble so I tried this prechitting it seem to have worked.
so the other week put some dwarf seeds in a damp napkin lined bowl just for a day or two until the root came out 1 or 2mm the planted about centermeter deep so the outcome,so out of twelve seeds 2 failed 1 deformed, this pic taken this morning (18/6) best germination rate this year.
hope this helps someone out.

First time posting a picture hope it works

Darran

[sholtsgate]

Forgot to add I have a stack of blue pallets as my table as you can see by the photo once I sowed them in the tray I put them lower down in those pallets north facing so out the sun in the shade/cooler area and watered them by standing them in water for a few minutes.

Then left until they poked out the compost then moved them onto where you see them now.

Darran

[Nicos]

Can you try and post the photo again DARRAN?

[sholtsgate]

Hi all DARRANP here had to open new account the other one turned faulty guess due to lack of use so here the picture of the beans.


got a long way to go to catch the others up





Darran

[Mark Rand]

They look good and healthy though!

[Jungle Jane]

You are doing well with your beans Darran & that’s good info

[sholtsgate]

Thank you Mark/Jane trust me I not doing well, bit of cheating going on also.

Back in march was out shopping popped into the garden centre brought a tray of french beans(20 plants).
Think it was late march very early April I planted 12 plants outsider did think its still a bit cold at night I'll keep an eye on the weather I've got fleece and it's in a sunny spot.And they just sat there/and sat there and then went yellow so put some fertiliser on that made no difference did read on the web that's a waste of time because the roots make there own nitrogen, overwatering makes them go yellow yes I was doing that because we got the sunniest April on record then dry May.

While all this was going on I ordered more seeds because some of the plants was looking about done and some was.So I would plant 12 seeds 2 would grow then plant another 12 seeds and 4 would grow, I did dig into the trays to see what was going on the bean was still there but just mush a few of the seeds had 10/15mm of root but just gone to mush so started doing the pre chitting way.

I will take a picture tomorrow of the ones I planted outside they are a bit greener healthier looking now sort of but only about foot maybe 2 high.

The Cheating bit: (bottom two pictures) remember I said I planted 12 plants the other six went INSIDE my glasshouse they are 8ft+ high now the beans around the bottom are about 6 inches long so hopefully beans for tea tomorrow.

Darran

[Marb67]

Well I'm taking no chances this time and have played it very safe with a brand new pack of heritage beans. If this doesn't work I don't know what will.

[Nicos]

Good luck marb!…we’re all crossing our fingers for you!

Are you going to try sowings some direct and some soaked/chitted first?