[andtiggertoo]

As a new veg grower, I've not grown french beans before.

I got home from work today and had a look at my seedlings which are on my windowsill in full sun. The french bean plants have just one pair of true leaves each. I was surprised to see that they had closed up against each other so only the underside were visable. I watered all the seedlings as it was pretty hot and the courgette seedlings were wilting a bit.

Later on in the evening I went in and saw that the bean leaves had turned 180 degrees downwards against the stem of the young plants to completely expose the top side of the leaf.

Is this normal ?

[peapod]

From remembering my plant science (bear with me I may be completely wrong) they could well have been conserving water by not allowing the water reserves held on the leaves to be evaporated by the sun. (sort of like our pores closing). Once they had been watered they could then turn fully to take advantage of the light
Its a fancy name but I cant lay my hands on my plant science folder for now!

[andtiggertoo]

that sounds quite sensible, the tomato plants hadn't reacted in the same way, maybe the beans are better at adapting to hot/draught situations than tomatoes.

Thanks peapod