Runner Bean poor germination

[plantmark]

I have had very poor success with Runner Bean White Lady. My forst sowing was 5 April when I sowed 12 seeds. I sowed them in long tubes in the green house and kept them upright so water doesn't rest on them. Only 4 germinated and 2 of those are runts.
Second sowing was 30 April again in tubes, when I sowed 32 and only 7 have germinated. Anybody had good results from White Lady?

[golden14]

Sounds like mine last year, this years have been fine but I have started them off on wet tissue paper much the same as cress, and germination rate is 90-95% plus, it's not too late to set some more going. Search my other posts for my fast germination method for runner beans - for me it works!

[vegetable-gardener]

I haven't grown white lady - i did grow Polestar this year and all of them came up.

[plantmark]

Originally Posted by golden14

Sounds like mine last year, this years have been fine but I have started them off on wet tissue paper much the same as cress, and germination rate is 90-95% plus, it's not too late to set some more going. Search my other posts for my fast germination method for runner beans - for me it works!

Thats interesting. Did you just lay them on damp tissue or cover them with tissue?

[tommyq1976]

Hi plantmark, you've picked a great variety to grow, white lady are delicious!

I did really well with white lady last year and found them to be great croppers. I've got one planted out so far this year (from 6, only one germinated) and it's starting to bear pods already! I've got a couple more germinating now (the last of the packet from last year) to go into the allotment alongside the more traditional red flowering beans... I think I may have been a little premature with my planting this year as far as beans go so I'm hoping this second sowing will go better.

[scottishgardener]

Originally Posted by plantmark

Thats interesting. Did you just lay them on damp tissue or cover them with tissue?

I start mine off between damp sheets of kitchen paper. As soon as the root starts to show I plant them in pots and this way manage to have a great success rate.

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by tommyq1976

Hi plantmark, you've picked a great variety to grow, white lady are delicious!

I did really well with white lady last year and found them to be great croppers. I've got one planted out so far this year (from 6, only one germinated) and it's starting to bear pods already! I've got a couple more germinating now (the last of the packet from last year) to go into the allotment alongside the more traditional red flowering beans... I think I may have been a little premature with my planting this year as far as beans go so I'm hoping this second sowing will go better.

I agree, mine are coming along too, i have 3 out of 7 through, although I think some will fail as i put them out too soon!

[IB1]

Soak them in water first for the first 4 hours (no more than 6 hours please)before putting them on wet paper towel and the runner bean will germinate within 1-4 days max. I put them on wet paper towel once they are soaked and cover with cling wrap to prevent the wet paper towel from drying out. Works really well with many types of beans.

[plantmark]

Absolutely right I have tried this and it worked a treat. I placed between sheets of kithchen roll and placed in a half seed tray with another on top and put this on the windowsill.



Thanks to all.....

[plantmark]

Fantastic results from this. I sowed 46 seeds of both Runners and French Beans and 44 germinated.
On my first effort I sowed in the greenhouse and I guess the variable temperatures, particularly overnight, are the problem. This time I kept on the windowsill with a fairly constant 70°F.

[tommyq1976]

Update: I've got some good ones now There's 12 in the garden, 2 old boys up the allotment and a further 7 on the window ledge which I started off in loo-roll halves, ready to be planted out (this aft if I get round to it).

[IB1]

If you don't have time to plant, just separate them on cotton balls and kept the cotton ball wet. They can grow easily to 10-12 cm in matter of weeks. Then when weather is warm, plant them with the cotton balls to the soil. I use this method many times and it works wonder.

[kairos]

Hi,
I am new to gardening. I have been given small pots with runner bean seedlings in.

I have planted them two to a 10 inch pot. They have been in for about three weeks now and they seem very slow to grow.
They are in a mix if garden centre compost and peat outdoors. I have kept them watered and in a sunny spot and I live in sunny Sussex.

Is something wrong or is it just changing their environment that has slowed down their growth?

Many thanks ,
Kairos.

[Mikey & Annie]

We soaked ours overnight and sowed em in 3inch pots without trying em in tissue paper. Nearly every one came up but didn't sow until mid May.

[bantiekeeper]

As we are now in June I would plant the beans straight in the ground next to each cane or pole. They should come up quite quickly. Also if you repeat this in a few weeks time, putting another bean near the earlier one, you will extend the season. As this is my favourite veg I do this every year!

[kairos]

Thanks Mikey and Annie, Bantiekeeper. I have planted some more beans in small pots that I will transfer to a vegetable bed. This is besides my original beans in 12 inch pots. I will also take your advice Bantiekeeper and plant new seeds beside existing plants to follow on.
Thanks for all your help,
Richard.