French Bean germination failure

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French Bean germination failure
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Res

Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:09 pm Post subject: French Bean germination failure
I have sown both climbing and dwarf in both pots of compost and direct sown, even bought new seed and sown again just in case it was a problem with my old packets of seed and still nothing! I have got 1 single plant out of 4 packets of seed WHAT am I doing wrong!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:20 pm Post subject:
Trying to grow French beans? I've never had any luck with them either, if they do germinate they just get slugged to death.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:28 pm Post subject:
How long ago did you plant them?

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:32 pm Post subject:
stick to runner beans. if i can grow them, anyone can. and mine are 5 ft high already. (do i take off the tops when they reach the top opf my trellis or leave them?)

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:32 pm Post subject:
me too - I soaked loads and planted them in loopaper tubes and only 1 made it, from Fee's yin-yang bean seeds, the rest just went mouldy. I've just replanted them in the ground this morning, six times what I need so either none or all will come up. It felt like perfect planting conditions, though - warm damp soil so I have my hopes up.

BahamaMama

Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:38 pm Post subject:
Mine have been very slow but I have had good rates - some in pots, some in the greenhouse and some in the ground. We will be inundated with beans if I can get them before the slugs.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 1:40 pm Post subject:
My first sowing, in pots in a plastic greenhouse, all rotted . I think it just got too cold at night for them to do anything except sit and sulk. Current sowing is belt and braces - more pots in the greenhouse and direct sown at the allotment - so fingers crossed. Cheers, Rob.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: French Bean germination failure

Res wrote:

I have sown both climbing and dwarf in both pots of compost and direct sown, even bought new seed and sown again just in case it was a problem with my old packets of seed and still nothing!

I have got 1 single plant out of 4 packets of seed

WHAT am I doing wrong!

Probably they were not warm enough and too wet? They need heat to germinate well and not too much moisture.

I water once after sowing in 3ins pots and cover the top with dry compost (discourages moulds). Keep somewhere warm (day & night) and don't water again until they show.

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 2:59 pm Post subject:
Good germination rate from BBC's 'Dig-in' seeds here, 11 out of 12 seeds. I did plant late (learnt lesson from last year) and they're only just starting to look lively now - but that's fine for up here in north Wales, any earlier and they'd stall, like last year. EV

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 3:00 pm Post subject:
mine went in ages ago, but you can generally get away with that down here.

Marts

Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 352
Location: London

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 3:14 pm Post subject:
Half of the runner bean seeds I direct sowed failed to germinate or got killed off early, but I also planted an equal amount in pots indoors and all of them took, so I now have loads of runner beans planted. The slugs are having a go at them, but they look like they are all well enough advanced to weather the predation. My Mange Tout on the other hand are already being harvested

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 3:16 pm Post subject:
All my "Dig In" beans grew to 3" then died..........dunno why, too much/ too little water?

zigs

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 524
Location: Somerset

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 4:12 pm Post subject:

toggle wrote:

stick to runner beans.

if i can grow them, anyone can. and mine are 5 ft high already.

(do i take off the tops when they reach the top opf my trellis or leave them?)

If you pinch the tops out, they will try to start growing again from the base.

I'm on my third sowing of french beans, nearly all have come up, i start them on the window sill.

Res

Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: French Bean germination failure

OtleyLad wrote:

Probably they were not warm enough and too wet? They need heat to germinate well and not too much moisture.

Judging by the "results" I think you are spot on. I will try some more and get some bottom heat into them as well...hey ho another leason learnt the hard way.

Thanks for info Otleylad

SarahB

Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Location: South Wales

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 10 6:34 pm Post subject:
Same here. First lot less that 1/4 came up and those got hit by a late frost. Subsequent sowings have failed miserably.

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