[jamesbrownontheroad]

Morning all,

Our French Beans (Golden Gate, from Dobies: http://www.dobies.co.uk/Shop/Vegetable+Seeds/Bean+Seeds+(Climbing+French+Beans)++Golden+Gate+431095.htm) have been in seed trays in our unheated greenhouse for a week or two. About half have now sprung up and have opened their first leaves. As complete noobs we didn't know when to sow them or when to plant out. Being in Glasgow, we are still a week or two away from the latest expected frost.

Should we a) transplant them into 4" or 6" pots to give them more room to grow or b) plant them out into the soil and be ready to leap into frost protecting action if needs be?

Thank you!

[compostqueen]

you could do either    I'd have potted them on into bigger pots as we get frosts right up until the first or second week in June and we're not nearly as far north as you are.  If you plant them out you will have to protect them, without a doubt, either with glass or fleece etc.  I've not even sown mine yet 

[jamesbrownontheroad]

We've just sown them too soon... I had no idea how fast they would grow

Another quick question - there's a healthy pile of fresh straw that has been dumped by the council in the cages adjacent to our allotment site where leaves are left from the parks department to mulch down. Those who are growing strawberries are grabbing some, but I was wondering whether a thick layer of straw is any good at protecting young bean plants from frost (or even attention from birds?).

Thanks

[Kristen]

Don't know how mild it is on the West coast of Scotland, but I think even if you plant out "early" and don't have any frosts they don't do much 'coz the nights are cold.  I would nurture them on, but put them outside during the day - that will slow them down so they don't romp ahead quite as much as if they were indoors all day.  Wait until the first true leaf appears though - most seedlings "halt" after the seed leaves before making enough energy to actually start growing real leaves - but Runners and Climbing French beans grow at a phenomenal pace, compared to pretty much any other veg seedling.