[Rangerkris]

Full to bursting with stuff  :blink: scared stiff of putting stuff out right now tho hahahahah my runners were planted out a year ago today not going to chance it this year tho.  

[mumofstig]

My runners are going in next week after the w/e 'cold snap' they have forecast. Still plenty of time to replant if they snuff it  

[Rangerkris]

Mine are not as big as last year, i did not know about frost and things so left them later this year

[Sharonx]

I was going to sow direct this year, so when should I do this? Thanks

[mumofstig]

I'd say in about 3 weeks. Then by the time they come up it should be past the last frosts  

You may want to just try a few now, if they succeed you will have nice early beans, but no great loss if they fail

[Sharonx]

Thanks I will get some in then after the weekends cold snap.

I have a few different varieties in my seed box. Do you think I can sow a mixture or would this not be a good idea because of pollination?

[mumofstig]

Mixtures are fine for this year.

But if you save seed for next year they may not grow the same , as the bees will have mixed them up

[Sharonx]

Oh goodie - I will give it a go this year then. Thanks for that, i'm so looking forward to lovely runners!

[bigben]

I'd say in about 3 weeks. Then by the time they come up it should be past the last frosts 

You may want to just try a few now, if they succeed you will have nice early beans, but no great loss if they fail

I have risked a dozen french beans outside in a little plastic propogator in paper pots, they are doing ok as I take the top off thru the day and replace on a night. Next weeks colder weather might finish them off though.
My main sowing will not be for a couple of weeks but I am happy to risk a dozen seeds and paper pots.

[Trikidiki]

Mixtures are fine for this year.

But if you save seed for next year they may not grow the same , as the bees will have mixed them up

I always find his idea of saving your own seed for next year interesting.

Bees forage up to 1.5 miles from their hive, and will concentrate on one flower source at a time. So if the bees are coming to your allotment they are going to visit all the runner beans around, including your neighbours. So unless everyone in the area is growing the same varieties then they are going to be cross pollinated anyway.

[Stevens706]

Trikidiki, thats an intersesting comment, one I can back up, last year I used my own saved seed (white Lady) but a couple of plants had red flowers so cross polination must have occured. Stiil tasted OK though

[8doubles]

I planted half saved seed and half new from the packet (the first for 5 years) last year.

The saved mongrel seed gave a slightly better yield than the `proper` stuff.