[compostqueen]

I just got my packet of Cosse Violette through the post today 

[ryetek]

I've always had good results with cobra, except for in the awful weather last year.

That's good to hear Yorkie. I'm in the same neck of the woods as you so fingers crossed for better weather.

[AlaninCarlisle]

Ive give up with these as im in cold wet and windy cumbria and they havent cropped well for 2 or 3 years,i usually grow cobra.
What i was wondering does anyone use a different variety that crops better in the bad summers weve been getting,although ive been getting good crops from dwarfs.

Maxie, it's wet and windy in Carlisle too but I've never failed to get a good crop from Cobra; even last year!

[gremlin]

I got a crop off Cossee Violette  last year.  Blue Lake, Yard long and Trail of Tears all failed. 

I sowed BL three times, including one batch started off in the greenhouse.  The wind shredded them on the plot.   

[maxie]

Ive give up with these as im in cold wet and windy cumbria and they havent cropped well for 2 or 3 years,i usually grow cobra.
What i was wondering does anyone use a different variety that crops better in the bad summers weve been getting,although ive been getting good crops from dwarfs.

Maxie, it's wet and windy in Carlisle too but I've never failed to get a good crop from Cobra; even last year!

I used to get great crops alan but the last three have been a waste of time its the purple ones for me this year.

[bayleaf]

I've always done okay with Cobra in wet and windy Lancashire. Germination can be tricky but if you start them off inside and then harden them off and put them in during a settled spell of weather they cope fine. I will have a look at Blauhilde this year though. Blue Lake didn't do well for me last year - couldn't cope with the wind.

[AlaninCarlisle]

Ah, I understand what the problem is now. Germination! I always start mine off in fibre pots in the greenhouse and plant out in late May

[Auntiemogs]

I start mine off in the propagator wrapped in damp tissue paper in a plastic container (cardboard underneath so they don't cook).  Then I pot them on.  Always seems to do well for me...

I've never had any luck with the fibre pots Alan, they dry out so quickly and never seem to break down properly. 

[DD.]

Good grief!

I can't understand why people mess about with pots and propagators for things like beans!

Cat litter tray.

Bung them in.

Let them grow.

Harden off.

Plant out.

Why make heavy work of growing a simple crop? 

[mumofstig]

I always chit my beans (as well as sweetcorn) cos a lot of'em seem to rot rather than germinate.
That way I know which ones to grow on 

[maxie]

Its not germination or anything like that im struggling with cobra,i put the french bean plants in at the same time as the runners,the runners grew away and cropped well,whereas the french sat there and sulked for a while,then grew away slowly and i only got a few beans off them.
In a good summer they are no problem,but the last two or three theyve been very poor.
So id be a fool to struggle on with cobra,i was all set for only growing runners despite preferring french so the recommended varieties have got to be worth a go.

[devonbarmygardener]

As I said earlier - not fussy - stick
 em' in the ground and watch what grows!

[AlaninCarlisle]

Good grief!

I can't understand why people mess about with pots and propagators for things like beans!


Why make heavy work of growing a simple crop? 

Several reasons:
1 Almost guaranteed 100% germination
2 No loss to mice and slugs
3 Gets them off to a flying start and earlier than straight into the ground
4 I built a large heated propagator so there is plenty of room in it to indulge myself