[rogertb]

Sorry, probably a well asked question but some advice please ... ok I maybe put some runners in loo roll tubes a bit early so they’re getting a bit high (10”) I’m in Bexhill but frosts are predicted for at least a week do I just hang on before attempting to plant them out ? thanks from the over-optimistic one .... I have spotted plenty of plants on offer in local shops though !

[Yorkie]

Yes, they are frost sensitive so definitely don't put them out yet.

[mumofstig]

Not just frost sensitive they don't like cold nights at all - I don't even think about planting them out 'til mid-May. Some of the 'old boys' plant them the first week in May, but they wrap polythene round the cane rows to keep them warmer inside their 'tent' 

[Nobbie]

Saw someone planting out some leggy courgettes on our site today. Given there’s a frost forecast tonight, seems pretty likely they’ll be dead by tomorrow

[snowdrops]

If they get too long try chopping the top off down to a pair of leaves or two, I did that one year when I was late planting them for one reason or another, they’d tangled round each other & I couldn’t untangle them, they were some of the best beans I’ve had

[Growster...]

That's actually a very good idea, Snows!

Might work also with cordon tomatoes - it does with cucumbers - the latter need to be asked not to die beforehand of course!

[rogertb]

Excellent advice as ever thanks chaps ...

[rogertb]

Here they are, too big ?

[8doubles]

Here they are, too big ?

Nothing wrong with them , fine sturdy plants !

[cc]

Am I reading this right?
If your beans are getting to tall you can snip them down to the lowest leaves?
I am growing Borlotti, climbing purple bean, cobra and Haricot.
The Borlotti and the purple beans were first by a fair bit to pop up. I am leaving a fair bit between potting the seeds.  so I was thinking of just binning those that are too far ahead. Weather forecast (Lincolnshire) night time temperatures below 4 degrees for the next seven days.  As I am rural they could be much lower.
So just cut them back to above the bottom 2 leaves?
As an aside what is an appropriate temperature to plant out?
Thanks cc

[JayG]

The idea is to buy yourself some time by snipping off the main growing shoot - this will force the plant to produce two new shoots from in between the first leaves and the main stem.

By the time the plants start getting unwieldy again, hopefully the temperatures will be warm enough to plant them out (after hardening them off.)

You still need some luck - any frost will kill them outright, and the further the temperature drops below around 10C the more they will sulk (I won't even be sowing my runners for another week as most years it's too risky to plant out before the very end of May here.)

[cc]

The idea is to buy yourself some time by snipping off the main growing shoot - this will force the plant to produce two new shoots from in between the first leaves and the main stem.

By the time the plants start getting unwieldy again, hopefully the temperatures will be warm enough to plant them out (after hardening them off.)

You still need some luck - any frost will kill them outright, and the further the temperature drops below around 10C the more they will sulk (I won't even be sowing my runners for another week as most years it's too risky to plant out before the very end of May here.)

I have just had a stunning brainstorming idea. Put cane in the pot and make them grow up it.  Am I a  genius....or a numpty?

[Nobbie]

The idea is to buy yourself some time by snipping off the main growing shoot - this will force the plant to produce two new shoots from in between the first leaves and the main stem.

By the time the plants start getting unwieldy again, hopefully the temperatures will be warm enough to plant them out (after hardening them off.)

You still need some luck - any frost will kill them outright, and the further the temperature drops below around 10C the more they will sulk (I won't even be sowing my runners for another week as most years it's too risky to plant out before the very end of May here.)

I have just had a stunning brainstorming idea. Put cane in the pot and make them grow up it.  Am I a  genius....or a numpty?

You’re a genius until you take your eye out with the top of the cane and then you’re a numpty

[mumofstig]

LOL!!!!!