In article ,
David Hill wrote:
On 12/05/2013 15:27, Bigal wrote:

20% of my runner beans didn't germinate, 10% produced twins, most of
the remainder decided to present their roots through the top of the pot
and the leaves through the side. The pots were made out of
newspaper...The beans are 'white lady'. I've not come across it
before. For two years now, using paper pots, l have found that
brassicas do not develop even after planting out. Others started in
plastic pots present no problems. l started using a different newspaper
last year and l am wondering if it was that.
Any one any ideas?

Is it an Australian paper?

Or the Daily Wail?

I have been doing this for years, with a very high success rate,
but we take the Independent. I soak the been seeds for 12-24
hours, and germinate them on damp kitchen roll in dishes covered
with cling film, and then put them straight into paper pots.
I do that for runner beans and 3-4 varieties of climbing French
beans, plus sweetcorn.

The sweetcorn did not do well this year, but I am pretty sure
that the problem was with the seed. It usually does better.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.