I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some outdoors in
pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and turned
mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My mangetout
sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans were
easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?

Thanks,

'Joanne',

It was probably too cold for them to germinate in the conditions which
you chose for them.

You should find this site helpful:

http://www.johnsons-seeds.com/growin...r_beans_3.html

Regards,
Emrys Davies




"Joanne" wrote in message
news:v6atc.141$NF6.34@newsfe2-win...
I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some
outdoors in
pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and
turned
mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My
mangetout
sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans
were
easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?

Thanks,

"Joanne" wrote in message
news:v6atc.141$NF6.34@newsfe2-win...
: I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some outdoors
in
: pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and
turned
: mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My
mangetout
: sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans were
: easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?
:
: Thanks,
:
:I would say you had duff seed for none to germinate

In article v6atc.141$NF6.34@newsfe2-win,
"Joanne" writes:
| I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some outdoors in
| pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and turned
| mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My mangetout
| sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans were
| easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?

As other people say, too cold or duff seed. I would try again (you
have plenty of time). I soak them for 24 hours, put them on damp
kitchen roll in a container covered with cling film, keep indoors,
and pot up the ones that germinate (ordinary soil will do, but I use
my own potting mixture in 4" pots). This protects them from rotting
due to a cold, wet spell just after they have germinated, which can
cause havoc with them (as well as with dwarf and French beans and,
in extreme cases, broad beans and peas).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article v6atc.141$NF6.34@newsfe2-win, Joanne
writes
I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some outdoors in
pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and turned
mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My mangetout
sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans were
easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?

You may have grown them a wee bit early, depending on where you are in
the country. They are more susceptible to frost than peas (ordinary,
snap or mangetout) or french beans. I would sow mid may to plant out in
June, or outside in June.

You always seem to get one or two in a packet which rot. They're slower
than mange tout to germinate, so the ones which are doing nothing may
just need more time.

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Joanne" wrote in message
news:v6atc.141$NF6.34@newsfe2-win...
I recently sowed runner beans, some indoors in warmth, and some outdoors
in
pots. However, none of them have germinated -- some have rotted and
turned
mouldy, and some are still sitting there doing nothing at all. My
mangetout
sowed at the same time are doing really well. I thought runner beans
were
easy to grow, so what might I have done wrong?

I have never sown them in pots either indoors or out as I have no
germination problems with sowing them in the garden. My guess would be
that either they were drastically over-watered, or possibly the pots or
growing medium used
were infected with some fungus?


--

Chris Thomas
West Cork
Ireland

In article ,
"Cerumen" writes:
|
| I have never sown them in pots either indoors or out as I have no
| germination problems with sowing them in the garden. My guess would be
| that either they were drastically over-watered, or possibly the pots or
| growing medium used were infected with some fungus?

I get a 95% kill rate on French and runner beans, sometimes peas
and very occasionally broad beans if the weather turns cold and
wet after they have started to germinate. The killer is definitely
fungal, but the spores are everywhere in my garden (whatever it is),
and there may be some insect involvement. The 'solution' is to
ensure that they are not blocked between when they start to absorb
water and when they have produced their first true leaves. They
can take temporary blockages after that, with only slight losses.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.