Runner Beans

[golden14]

I have attached some photos of the method I have been using to jump start this years runner beans (Note I live on the Isle of Wight and estimate that I can get crops going around a month earlier as a result of it being warmer). I use some clear plastic punnets lined with wetted toilet paper, place the bean seeds on top, and cover with more wetted paper. Store in the downstairs cloakroom with a magazine on top, within less than a week they are growing shoot.
(Keep ensuring the tissue is always damp)
As soon as they have shooted I remove the top layer of tissue and leave them on the windowsill for one day. They seem to spurt into growth in 24 hours, I then pot them up the next day. I then keep them in my conservatory which with the hot day / cold night seems to have already hardened them up nicely.
Photos as attached (All taken today)

[GMB27]

What an interesting way to start them off! I live in the south west and although not as warm and mild, i think i'll give your method a try and see what happens! Have you had many beans from plants grown this way?

[malcolmx]

unfortunatly you cannot harden plants under glass all the time . to properly harden off plants they must be indoors and out side .you cannot often get a jump start on nature so do not be surprised if these beens are slow to grow when you do put them out

[golden14]

Yes I actually had a record crop last year, so much so that I ended up selling them outside my house as the freezer was full. They are now outside and hardening up. The tallest one is of around 9 inches this morning and has already survived temperatures down to 1 deg C.
I used this technique last year when mine were slow to germinate as were many others. Infact it worked so well I ended up selling them to half of my neighbourhood

[tomterm8]

That sounds like a really interesting technique. I agree with Malcolm, though - you are supposed to put them outside for a time, in order to let them harden off before planting. But Runner Beans are quite forgiving.

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by golden14

Yes I actually had a record crop last year, so much so that I ended up selling them outside my house as the freezer was full. They are now outside and hardening up. The tallest one is of around 9 inches this morning and has already survived temperatures down to 1 deg C.
I used this technique last year when mine were slow to germinate as were many others. Infact it worked so well I ended up selling them to half of my neighbourhood

That sounds great. I'm giving it a try! Thanks for the advice and tips!

[colin1957]

I have used that method in the past with peas and your right it works a treat

[vegetable-gardener]

Great idea. I planted my runner beans in individual pots and they are now outside to harden off. I won't plant them for a little while because of the risk of frost.

[mor]

Not heard of this mthods before, gues we leran new thing everyday. l hope to give it a try thanks for the tips.

[golden14]

Thanks, I hope people found my original post useful, I fully hardened them off outside prior to planting, they are now around 12-18 inches high already. I wish I had done more for reselling as I sold out in 2 days of putting them outside for sale.

[florence]

OK I posted earlier about my failures so have bought more seeds, done as you have suggested (why the magazine?) and now just trying to work out where to put them! How big do they need to be before I can plant them and put them into the unheated greenhouse and then plant them please?

[golden14]

The magazine minimises the light and keeps them warm at night, although newspaper would do. I have attached an updated photo of my runner beans as of last week, rained a little since so they are a bit higher than this now.

[Sueh]

Have planted my beans outside and were going well but now seem to be growing really slow. The more advanced beans are only about 1mt tall and are starting to flower. I have never had this before have they stopped growing? Should I feed them with something?
Cheers
Sue

[farmer giles]

Hi, Im new to all of this, I planted my runner beans a few wks ago and realised after that I had used weedkiller on the same patch my beans are on, Will I be ok to eat these??? Ive read a few forums and they say different things regarding this so your help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks Lee

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Lee, what type / brand of weedkiller did you use?