[heygrow]

First time growing runner beans........

I am thinking about how I should start my runner beans of in a couple of months. I want to give them the best start before planting out in the bed, so I plan to start of the seedlings indoors. Having read previous theads on this subject and propagators, I have come to the conclusion that a propagator is not really neccesary and I could put them on a window seal inside a plastic bag.

1/ Is this correct or is a propagator better?
2/ Once germanated, should I take out of sealed bag and leve on window seal to grow a bit?
3/ I the plan to put outside in covered plant rack (sort of mini greenhouse). Is this correct?
4/ Then plant out into bed if temperature seems to be OK?

What do you think?

[Yorkie]

Sounds like a good plan 

I don't plant mine out until first week of June so don't plant them indoors until early - mid April.

[DD.]

Runner beans do NOT require a lot of heat to germinate. Too much and you'll end up with weak plants.

This is how I do it - pehaps you can adapt for your circumstances.

Mid - April - not before - that's 3 months, not a couple. Seeds are sown in trays in an unheated greenhouse.

Once first true leaves show, they are hardened off  (out during the day, in at night for a week, then out all the time unless a frost is forecast).

Planted in final position in June and pray for no late frosts.

[Aunt Sally]

I generally start mine off in a cold greenhouse in "Richy's paper pots" - nice and deep for good root growth.


http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=11390.msg145648;topicseen#msg145648

[prakash_mib]

Sorry to hijack,
Can this be applied to climbing french as well?
I will be trying to grow runner, climbing french, trail of tears all three for bean supply

[DD.]

Yup - no different.

[Kristen]

I grow mine 2-plants-per-3"-pot as I want to grow two plants up each "cane".

This gives them a bit more space than if I grow them in modules, in case I am delayed planting them out - BUT ... delay in planting results in massivel length to the "climbing-end" which makes it a nightmare to plant out - so don't start them too early.

Plant a seed too when you plant out the plants - that will give you a follow-on plant for later cropping.

I sow mine later than the others here.

01-May Sow
10-May Germinated
21-May Start hardening off
01-Jun Planted
27-Jun Flowering
20-Jul First harvest

[DD.]

Guess what sort of trays I use!

[JayG]

I am also a "late starter" when it comes to runner beans; apart from the risk of frost which will kill them they will also sit and sulk if the outdoor temperatures are too low for their liking!

I reckon about a week to germinate indoors in paper pots, a week for the seed leaves to green up and the growing shoot to start contemplating its epic journey, and another week to start hardening off.

After that it's all about keeping a check on the weather, as Kristen says once they get tall enough to start winding round each other they are a pain to untangle, but they must not be subjected to frosts and preferably not low temperatures either (less than 10C day or night.)
 
This will obviously vary depending on where you live but here in Sheffield the end of May is usually about right (but not last year!!)  

[DD.]

Last year due to illness, I didn't sow until May. Consequently I missed the late frosts that got the early birds and still hd a cracking crop despite the late sowing. Same went for the spuds.

Moral - don't be in a busting rush!

[cooperman]

Its not rocket science as far as runners are concerned, popping straight in the ground at the end of May will always result in a good crop. However, if you want to get them growing earlier my method is as follows.
At the end of April beginning of May I chit my bean seeds in a small seed tray, ie pop a bit of soil in chuck a packet of beans in (or saved seed) cover with soil and water well, pop these in a cold greenhouse/coldframe/windowsill. After a few days these will start sprouting and pushing thru, I then pot these seedlings up in 3" square pots in trays and grow on in the greenhouse, by the end of May they are well away..... simples

[Yorkie]

I know the question is about indoor growing, but as direct sowing has been mentioned, just to post a caution - don't rely on this alone unless you have very very good slug / snail protection ... 

[DD.]

Its not rocket science as far as runners are concerned, popping straight in the ground at the end of May will always result in a good crop. However, if you want to get them growing earlier my method is as follows.
At the end of April beginning of May I chit my bean seeds in a small seed tray, ie pop a bit of soil in chuck a packet of beans in (or saved seed) cover with soil and water well, pop these in a cold greenhouse/coldframe/windowsill. After a few days these will start sprouting and pushing thru, I then pot these seedlings up in 3" square pots in trays and grow on in the greenhouse, by the end of May they are well away..... simples

Depends how many you're growing. 128 is a lot of pots. 4 cat litter trays isn't.

[kermit]

Last year I was late too - just chitted them in my airing cupboard on damp kitchen roll around 10 May, in a bag.  As soon as they germinated, straight out into holes (just using my finger) in final position.  Grew some spares on in 3 inch pots (also outside, but under a cloche) to plug any gaps (there werent any).  Worked a dream for my runners and french.  Main benefit is that I didnt have to harden them off or take up valuable window / greenhouse space.  Seemed much healthier and stronger than last year, but was a different variety and could be other reasons for this (weather, soil prep etc).

[heygrow]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. I now have a good idea of what is required and can see that within cetain guidlines there are a number of different methods that will work.

I must however take the point not to be tempted to be be too impatient to start them off. I'll get on with the other stuff and wait for May (seems a long time off at present )