[oliskeini]

Hi I’ve been having difficulties getting my runner beans to germinate, some have rotted in the compost, so I tried soaking them and growing in a jar of dampened kitchen roll, but I read somewhere that this causes halo blight, any advice please.

Thank

https://roadrunneremail.org/

[Kleftiwallah]

I haven't had much luck with our runners this year, however... I normally sandwich the seeds between damp kitchen paper.  I have heard that it's a good idea to chip off a small chink in the outer covering of the seed.

Cheers,   Tony.

[jambop]

The only time I have ever had problems getting beans to germinate is when it is too cold or the seed is not viable. So the obvious question is how old is the seed and has it been very cold when you tried to get them going. In my experience if the conditions are right germinating beans is a very easy thing to do.

[GraciesGran]

I lay mine on damp newspaper and when they germinate they go in the ground.  It was good enough for my grandad and if it ain't broke.,...........

[Aunt Sally]

I have to agree with jambop.  Temperature could be the key.

 When we need to germinate beans in the UK it can be rather cold causing the beans to rot in the compost.  Try keeping them indoors to germinate next year.

[JayG]

I soak them to rehydrate the seeds, then keep no more than damp, whether pre-germinating, sowing indoors or outside (they are prone to rot, especially if the temperature is too low.)