Runner beans

[florence]

Due to a shortage of space I am hoping to grow runners in pots as I have with reasonable success for the past 2 years. I planted the seeds mid march undercover and so far not one has done anything! Help, do I need to buy plants now or can I wait a little longer please?

[Husker]

Hi Florence. I'm afraid after this long your seeds may have rotted and won't germinate, but before doing anything else you may want to try gently moving some of the soil on top aside and see if there are any signs of life. Beans like warm weather to germinate and maybe it was just a bit too cold. If you don't find any sprouts you can buy plants if you want but I think you still have time for seeds. I just planted my spring bean seeds and will plant seeds again in mid to late July for a fall crop that usually does better than the spring. I'm not sure when your average first frost day is, around here it's about mid Oct. If yours is similar you've got plenty of time.

[golden14]

I would buy some that are already on their way, although they grow so fast you could still plant some now. I did a post on how to grow them in just a week, sowing them on tissue paper. Photo of mine attached which are not doing badly!