Help!! French beans out of control...

Treehugger · « **on:** May 11, 2008, 20:46 »

Hi folks,

A couple of weeks ago (maybe three) I planted two trays of French beans - one a dwarf purple variety and the other a climbing yellow type. I'm SURE I labelled them correctly but the dwarf ones are now about 8" high :shock: and threatening to wind their way up my leg every time I go near them... on the other hand the climbing ones, though well-developed, are still extremely short.

As it's still a bit early to plant them out in Shropshire I'm not sure what to do with the so-called dwarf ones to curb their enthusiasm. Both types have been in my mini-greenhouse but are now spending more time outdoors.

Thanks for any ideas!

sawnee · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2008, 20:58 »

Sorry Treehugger cant help you with the bean problem, but as for labeling,I arrived at my plot yesterday to plant a large tray of sweetcorn in the bed next to my asparagus plants that never came up, and there in the middle of my intended sweetcorn bed was an asparagus spear about 10 inches high :shock:
Today I made up some pukka labels for my beds :oops:

gobs · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2008, 20:58 »

There are so called 'dwarf beans' which will be between 2-4 feet high as mature.

vegmandan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2008, 20:59 »

It seems like you might have got your labels mixed up there.

The ones that are wanting to climb will be the climbing ones if they are growing long thin upward shoots I think..

Should be ok to plant outside now,no frost forecast for the next 10 days and by then the risk has usuakky passed anyway.

gobs · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2008, 21:14 »

Quote from: "vegmandan"

It seems like you might have got your labels mixed up there.

Very quite likely. :roll:

Treehugger · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2008, 09:12 »

No no no I promise I didn't mix up the labels...unless someone around the house has been making mischief! (He swears he hasn't :roll: )

Gobs your info about the size of some "dwarf" beans may be relevant. Hope you enjoyed your unexpected asparagus Sawnee!

THANKS for all replies anyway - I'll risk planting them out soon. Time will tell whether I've put them in the right places of course... :?

This is a terrific and very helpful site

garddwr bach · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2008, 10:57 »

Glad to hear you're planting out yur French beans.
I've sown 12 in pots in the cons but am dying to plant them out. Is it a good idea to plant a bean every other with the established ones or plant the new ones separately?

Treehugger · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2008, 23:22 »

Quote from: "garddwr bach"

Is it a good idea to plant a bean every other with the established ones or plant the new ones separately?

Not sure that it matters - depends how much space you have! Either way you get a longer picking season so it's a good idea.

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