Runner bean query

[cotton54321]

Hi
is it best to plant runner beans straight outdoors or should I start them off in root trainers?
If starting them indoors in root trainers, when should I plant?
Thanks
Melx

[sewer rat]

Mel
Runner beans can be planted straight into the ground but a lot of people, myself included, start them indoors in 3" pots. The recommended time for sowing this crop direct is mid May and late April for beans started in pots. It all depends on when your last frosts are - bean seedlings do not like the cold - so before planting out, make sure you have hardened them off.
You can use the moist kitchen towel method to initiate germination and ensure seed viability before potting.

[smallblueplanet]

Hi Melx

we normally start ours off in old yoghurt pots (the big ones!), but this year I splashed out on some real rootrainers off ebay - very posh!

I like to start most stuff in modules - one, so I know where they are and two, so you know how many you've got growing (you can cosset them more too, but then we grow them 'hard' of course! )

[andrewo]

I start mine off under glass, just to get them going and then plant out with a direct sowing, so that the crops are staggered.

[cotton54321]

Thanks guys

I think I may try a combination - it will be quite a long run of beans and I don't have a greenhouse so a lot of 3in pots on the windowsill would be hard!
Thank you!

[Lesley Jay]

I can't sow the beans direct into the soil outside because they disappear so I have to start mine off inside. With space in the greenhouse being limited I use cells - 1 bean per cell. They don't take up much room just the size of a seed tray.

[cotton54321]

one more question!
For a 30ft row, how many do you think I should plant into cells?
Mel x

[smallblueplanet]

Don't know sorry - we put ours up bamboo cane wigwams!

[Lesley Jay]

They want to be planted about 9 inches apart so that would be 40 plants. I shall get the calculator out and check! We normally plant a 15 foot double row of runner beans and have a different variety on each side.

[nick the grief]

for a 30' row you'd need about 80 beand at 9" spacing Mel, 40 each side. You could buy a pack of roottrainers & that would cover half of them.

Hope you've got a big freezer

[Lesley Jay]

Is it a 30 foot single row or a 30 foot double row?

[nick the grief]

Good Question LJ I assumed a double row as most folks grow like that (apart from Jax that is)

[cotton54321]

Hi
It is just a single row - got a very long but not so deep bed so need space for peas too!
Mel

[nick the grief]

I'd be tempted to grow a 15 ft double row rather than a 30 foot single row as it will be more stable with the canes bracing one another

[Lesley Jay]

Cotton I would agree with Nick. Runner bean plants are very heavy and last year even though we had a double row when gales were forecast we had to tie the frame down with ropes.