[mumofstig]

The sq ft gardening site says you can grow 9 beans in a square - personally I think that is far too many but 5 does work
http://squarefootgardening.org/green-beans


It is a completely different way of gardening for small spaces, so you can't really compare it with row planting.

[mat whitlock]

Ah, interested to read a thread about dwarf beans and how to plant them out (I'm new to veggie gardening).
I've planted some beans in individual pots and put them in/under (?) a cold frame with a view to planting them out once they've germinated. But I'm now wondering if I should have simply put them straight into my raised bed as I did with my broad beans?

You can sow direct but they are prone to rotting if too wet, if sown in a pot hopefully you can water sparingly

Thanks, Snowdrops.

Mat - apologies - I wasn't trying to highjack your thread, just thought I'd ask a quick question on the same subject instead of starting a new thread.

Its no problem, ask away
i would have probably ended up asking it anyway at some point lol

mat

[sunshineband]

Just bear in mind that French beans do like warmth! if you geminate them in pots first and plant out as soon as you think the last frost has been and gone they will do you proud. I feed mine with tomato fertiliser once they start to set beans. Keeps them going for ages.

You can also start another lot off later in the year around mid June if you think you will have an "empty square! around then

[Yorkie]

Ah, interested to read a thread about dwarf beans and how to plant them out (I'm new to veggie gardening).
I've planted some beans in individual pots and put them in/under (?) a cold frame with a view to planting them out once they've germinated. But I'm now wondering if I should have simply put them straight into my raised bed as I did with my broad beans?

Bear in mind that French beans are not frost hardy, so don't plant them out until the risk of frost has passed.

[mat whitlock]

thanks all

ive been putting them in the sun each morning and back indoors at night
they are doing something but not sure if whatthey are doing is right

this is going to sound really stupid but they seem to be growing upside down lol??

[mumofstig]

Sometimes they do that and have to turn themselves up the right way.
If they really do show roots rather than shoots, then just put some compost over the roots so they can sort themselves out, without drying out.

[sunshineband]

Sometimes they do that and have to turn themselves up the right way.
If they really do show roots rather than shoots, then just put some compost over the roots so they can sort themselves out, without drying out.

LOL Some of mine have done that --- makes you wonder what they are up to, but they do eventually sort themselves out, thank goodness! Their root does turn and go downwards, drawn by the pull of gravity

[mat whitlock]

its not the roots its the shoots, they have done a 180 degree turn

[mat whitlock]

like this

20160506_202025_001 by mathew whitlock, on Flickr

[mumofstig]

That's perfectly normal - the stem straightens up and the leaves then appear above ground 

[mat whitlock]

That's perfectly normal - the stem straightens up and the leaves then appear above ground 

ah ok thanks
i thought maybe there was a mix up at the seed packing factory and they packed australian beans instead of french

thanks for the help though, cant believe ive actually managed to get a few different things growing from seed.
dont tell anyone but ive been popping home from work during day to check on them lol

[mumofstig]

It does get addictive 

[snowdrops]

That's perfectly normal - the stem straightens up and the leaves then appear above ground 

ah ok thanks
i thought maybe there was a mix up at the seed packing factory and they packed australian beans instead of french

thanks for the help though, cant believe ive actually managed to get a few different things growing from seed.
dont tell anyone but ive been popping home from work during day to check on them lol

Anothermadman convert 😊

[sunshineband]

That's perfectly normal - the stem straightens up and the leaves then appear above ground 

ah ok thanks
i thought maybe there was a mix up at the seed packing factory and they packed australian beans instead of french

thanks for the help though, cant believe ive actually managed to get a few different things growing from seed.
dont tell anyone but ive been popping home from work during day to check on them lol

Anothermadman convert 😊

Aww Yuss!! All the signs are there, I'm afraid, Mat. This is indeed serious issue for some of us and needs careful management if you are to avoid total obsession...... on second thoughts, it might even be too late for you. Your are there already! Welcome to the Club!!!

[mat whitlock]

haha thanks for the replies

yep i may have already gone to far to be saved even my neighbours now think im crazy, but i love it, its great fun