"TheScullster" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi all

Started planting up some veg (indoors in pots) last night.
Came across packets of last years runners and broad beans.
The beans had darkened somewhat and one or two were "fusty" (the fusty
ones were not used).
What's the chances of these germinating on a window sill in peat pots?


The chances are very high - bean seeds keep for ages - but it's far too
early to think about planting them.
They are quick germinators (is that a word??) but the seedlings grow fast
too - thus being too big for a windowsill situation - and will not stand
even one degree of frost.
My grandfather, who was a master gardener, planted his runner beans seeds
outside on May 8th every year even though he had a greenhouse he never
started them in there, or indoors. He said it would make them too soft.
I don't remember him every having a failure.
We certainly ate a lot of runner beans and when we got sick of them he would
salt them in jars for winter. We always had home grown runner beans with
our Christmas dinner.
No freezers.

Tina