Runner Beans

Quick question - is there still time to start runner beans off?  Would have normally done so by now but long story as to why I haven't.

I've only done some dwarf ones for pots (Heista), I want to get some tall ones growing as well!

Hannah

I'm just about to set some more off.  If you're worried, stick them in a heated propagator, they'll be up in a couple of days!

When having to do second sowings (such as when the little mouse gardeners dig the beans out of some of the pots.  Swines.) I have tended to find that although still behind the first sowing at the point of planting out, they all take a bit of a knock and thereafter pretty well perform all about the same once settled down outside.

Have also been known to sow a few direct even in the middle of June to fill up an odd bare patch on a wall trellis and still get significant crops from them.

Just as well really - not far off being the only  things I can still grow apart from a few pots of salad leaves.
(Still got loads of last years beans in the freezer too.  May have over-catered slightly in 2014.....)

I recently found this great tip on the hort channel, when planting out your runner/French bean plants, put a seed in next to it for successional sowing, Dave

I'd forget the propagator. You don't need that much heat, it can lead to the seed rotting. Outside in a sheltered spot will suffice.

I 2nd that!  I start some off in 3" pots late April, then put them in the ground about now.  Then I put more straight in the ground around now.  In fact I put some in pots yesterday too as quite a few of my earlies rotted.  Some seem to hold water more than others in the pots for some reason!   

Never mind, still plenty of seeds.  Mine never go under heat anyway, even the April sowings in pots start off in cool greenhouse.

I've just planted my first runners out.  I'll sow some more in early june.  In actual fact when I sow some more summer squash as well.  There's plenty of time and hopefully have nice tender fresh runners into late October with a bit of luck. 

To me they always seem to get a bit tough and horny after a couple of months so I'm happy to have a second batch on the go.  Same seems true of climbing french beans as well.  They are nice and crisp and well formed and latter get a bit less appetising bent and a bit discoloured .  Edible but not at their best.  We always have a large amount in the freezer and last well through to Christmas or January but can be a bit past it after that.