French and Runners?

[broadway]

Am I too keen as I'm thinking of sowing indoors today?

[Thelma Sanders]

no, about right - I reckon.....they're next on my list

[mothhawk]

Going to put mine to chit today

[veggiechicken]

I've already started mine!!

[broadway]

Thanks folks

[arpoet]

Sowing the first of mine next weekend in the greenhouse half a dozen every 2 weeks (runners) until the end of May. Then I might start off a few climbing French beans.

[Richard Eldritch]

I sowed my in book root trainers about 10 days ago, and planted them out today ( I'm in London and it's warm) Have to say I can't recommend the root trainers enough. The roots are excellent, the best I've ever had. They're free now for sweetcorn in mid May.

[Kristen]

( I'm in London and it's warm)

OK, you edited your message after I started replying EDIT: No you didn't, I read it in another thread

You might get away with it in a sheltered garden in London ... but I think its only 50:50 whether you will get cold nights between now and your normal "last frost" date, which might set you back.

Also, if only 10 days from sowing (if I understood you correctly?) they will be very young & soft plants, which will make it harder for them to combat being outside.

But I wish you luck and FingersCrossed the weather Gods will be kind to you too

[Richard Eldritch]

OK, you edited your message after I started replying EDIT: No you didn't, I read it in another thread

You might get away with it in a sheltered garden in London ... but I think its only 50:50 whether you will get cold nights between now and your normal "last frost" date, which might set you back.

Also, if only 10 days from sowing (if I understood you correctly?) they will be very young & soft plants, which will make it harder for them to combat being outside.

But I wish you luck and FingersCrossed the weather Gods will be kind to you too

Makes it all more exciting I think? They were about two weeks old, so tender but I haven't had frost since the winter before last. My spuds were in by mid feb and they're storming along. Londons always warmer at night as there's so much radiated heat from the roads and buildings.

[Jardiniere]

50% of mine are in little pots in the garden....its in the 20s pm but only around 7 overnight and first thing. They are starting to grow .....

[Matt94]

Hi broadway, considering your location I don't think your too eager, however I always leave my bean sowing until the 1st May, as I've sown them this time in the past and the frost has killed them.

[Richard Eldritch]

Hi broadway, considering your location I don't think your too eager, however I always leave my bean sowing until the 1st May, as I've sown them this time in the past and the frost has killed them.

I always look for a year to get an really early start as I have a tiny garden and want to try and get a summer and winter crop one year. As it is I have to choose and generally go for the summer stuff and just a couple of tough over winter lettuce and brassicas, I've never managed to get full beds of both yet...

[Martin H]

I have never done well with early sowings of French beans in pots. I get best results with seeds planted straight into the ground on a sunny day at end of April or beginning of May. These seem to overtake the ones started indoors. So I recommend you are very careful about hardening off before planting out.

I've done better with runner beans, maybe because I start them a bit later.

[Scarlet]

I have never done well with early sowings of French beans in pots. I get best results with seeds planted straight into the ground on a sunny day at end of April or beginning of May.

Totally opposite for me! Hit and miss results come from my direct sown beans. My strong pot grown plants get planted out with a seed for a little later crop but they don't always make it.

[Kristen]

I do both (with climbing beans). I sow and raise in pots, and plant out, and I then put a bean in the ground when I plant to "come on later" for a follow-on crop towards the end of the season, and lower down on the canes. I used to grow one-seed-per-pot , and then plant two-pots-per-cane (for YEARS AND YEARS!!!) until I realised what a Muppet I was and now grow two-plants-per-pot