[Eatyourgreens]

What do I do, hang my head in shame, this has never happened to me before 

I bought a "new"packet of Pickwick Runner Beans from a respected nursery, as I thought they would suit growing up here (Have managed to get RB's to full hight before but not much of a crop) and would give them a try.

I sowed the first two as an early experiment back in late feb, one came up and is ready to flower soon, I sowed 4 more in March and one came up but was so sickly I threw it away. In April I sowed the rest and not one came up, on inspection all the beans have that soft white stuff on them but no sign of activity. I have just ditched them.

All the beans mentioned were sown singly in 3 inch pots, in an unheated GH that is stuffed full of happily germinating seedlings of Broad Beans, Tomato's Courgettes, Cucumbers, Brassica's of all sorts etc.

I don't think I gave them any specifically wrong or bad treatment, any ideas?


Bob

PS Fresh lot of Scarlett Emperor's now sown, doing the same as above with a reserve lot to go direct in the soil if needed.

[janiejakemum]

Put it down to a dodgy batch and start again,  I have done 2 separate trays and a load straight in the ground and they are all growing away happily, maybe its my seeds but i didnt think beans had a hard time germinating.  I'd definately say a dodgy batch.

[Oliver]

soft white stuff on them but no sign of activity. I have just ditched them. ....

If there is one things beans like, its a warm soil, and not too wet. And they also like lots of light - almost the same length of day as night (12 hours-like).
So, I sow my beans in Mid May (SW England) in the poly/gh and again directly in the ground in early June when the soil has warmed up, and for a later crop.

White stuff is a sort of mould - which indicates nice temperatures for the mould, but no good for the beans!

So, ditch everything, start again - soak the beans in a jar for about 8 hours, then put them on moist kitchen towel, covered with some more moist kitchen towel. As soon as they start to hatch (about 3 days) put them in a 3" pot of fresh compost - being careful not to break the roots. Water gently and keep moist, and hey presto - beans will grow.

Oliver :blink: that's what I do, anyhow.

[Eatyourgreens]

Funnily enough, I have just come into the kitchen and raided the kitchen roll and set the last few Pickwicks up like that, then sat down and read your reply, although the Scarlett's are in 3 inch pots.

You never know!!


Bob