[Anton]

Advice please. I have tried to chit two lots of dwarf beans but they both started turning mouldy without sprouting (placed between damp paper towel in a plastic box).

Anton

[Hampshire Hog]

Tricky. Were the paper towels a bit too wet. Also where had you placed the box?
I managed to germinate some climbing french beans early in the season but I was using new seeds and had put the box into my airing cupboard. I have had the experience of sweetcorn seeds going mouldy when I have chitted them so I know there can be problems on occasion.

[Anton]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, maybe there were a bit too wet.

Anton

[Nobbie]

I’ve had similar issues with my French beans planted into compost and put in a warm place to germinate. Only got around 15% germination with the rest rotting. Tried a fresher packet and exactly the same result. I’m wondering if they were too warm and the fungus beat the bean. I’ve sowed another tray and just put it in the greenhouse so will see how that does.

[steven c]

i think it is very easy to be too wet when chitting also it needs to be quite warm to allow chitting before rotting i would have thought for beans about 3 days   good luck.

[Goosegirl]

None of mine came up nor did my sweet peas but my snaps did. Think the greenhouse was too cold! Am going to try some more d f beans and will water from the bottom until the surface is just moist and see how that goes.

[coldandwindy]

After much experimenting I now start mine in root trainers propped upright in a heated tray but with no cover over them.  I sow 2 in each cell & just plant them like that, together. I get very good results.

[Anton]

You put two seeds in each cell, in soil, watered

[coldandwindy]

You put two seeds in each cell, in soil, watered

Yes.

[coldandwindy]

Haxnix deep root trainers propped in a heated tray
Loose, lumpy, multipurpose compost.
Water it.
Push seeds about 1/2" down with my finger.
Cover/fill the hole left, with dry compost
Bottom heat and in a warm room.
NO COVER.

Just worked it out. 90% germination this year.

ETA  They're all about to die now aren't they! Pride comes before a slug attack!

[jaydig]

I've had precious little success with dwarf beans this year.  I must have sown around thirty or more seeds and only have six, not every sturdy, plants from those.  I might wait another week or two and sow directly in the ground to see if that produces anything.

[Anton]

I have just watched a video on deep root trainers. Very clever. I was going to ask how you get the seeds from the pots and into the ground but now I see you open them up.

Anton

[coldandwindy]

Yes, you just wait until there's enough root growth for the root ball to come out in one piece. Lie flat & gently lift out. You can use the trainers multiple times. The framework provided to stand mine in was very flimsy & not worth bothering with. I stand them in the heated tray or in a big square pot. After a few uses you have to wedge something against them so they don't pop open.