Forum home› Fruit & veg

Runner beans, again, shall I just plant them out...

johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
in Fruit & veg
So, I also sowed my runner and French beans a bit earlier in April than I should have and after two weeks they are a good foot tall...

Shall I cut my losses and stick them in the ground and see how they do and sow a second back up batch. I probably have the space in the patch for both batches if I organise well and the first batch survive...

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 21,895
    Up to you what you want to do with the already grown ones, but I would advise you sow another lot on the 1st May, and plant out around first or second week in June. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,427
    depends where you live of course, but you are a bit early, I would start sowing mine May same as Lyn, you havent been paying attention to Jack and the Beanstalk, they grow like "beans" haha
  • johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
    I'm in the Midlands. The veggie patch is all prepared. 

    I couldnf remember when when I usually sowed them and the packets said April to May so I thought they would be fine. 

    Might stick them in the ground before they are over the kitchen and try and go for and early and late crop...
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,648
    As long as you have room to plant some later sown ones then you've not got much to lose by planting out the early ones. Don't forget to harden them off first.

    Be ready to be a bit ruthless though, if they are a bit lacklustre in terms of production - you can keep sowing french beans well into summer so if the ones you plant now are not doing well, replace them
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
  • Kevin134Kevin134 Posts: 15
    I would plant them now and then put another lot in around june july time for september picking.
  • johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
    With the weather as it is, how long should I harden them off for? Out during the day and in at night first? 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,648
    johnbaron said:
    With the weather as it is, how long should I harden them off for? Out during the day and in at night first? 
    Yes, for about a week probably and ideally then a second week outside but sheltered from cold winds or heavy rain and fleeced or taken back inside if there happens to be a frost. 

    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
  • johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
    So I probably shouldn't just whack them in the veggie patch and hope for the best then!...
Sign In or Register to comment.