[barbarella]

Has anyone tried using water retaining granules when planting beans?  I bought a tub of them  for my garden pots and I decided to add a teaspoonful to the planting holes when planting out my runner beans.  They are supposed to be very thirsty plants so I don't suppose it will do any harm.

PS  I know everyone will say I put the runners in too early but the roots were bursting to go, hardened off,  and we are going on holiday next week so I did not want to leave them in the cold frame to the tender mercies of my son who is supposed to be revising but stays in bed until lunchtime if he can and forgets to open the lights    And we do have a warm microclimate close to sea in the West Country.     

[mumofstig]

Fingers x d for you then......could you peg some fleece around them just to be safe

[barbarella]

Yes, I think I will - I did that last year before we went away and they were okay when we got back.  I also sowed a few more in pots two weeks later which will stay in the cold frame in case I lose any.