[jsgreen89]

I'm planning on putting my runner bean seeds in tonight, using the standard (inverted V) double row arrangement. The bed is going to be around 13 ft long.

I'm a bit concerned that as soon as any seedlings appear they'll be gobbled up by birds and mice etc.. So I was wondering if anyone has a nice method of protecting the seedlings when using such a cane formation. Can I just wrap a load of green netting around the outside of the canes, then try and bury the bottom couple of inches in soil to keep it pinned down?

Thanks!

[DD.]

I have never had a problem with mice or birds when it comes to beans, and our pigeons will eat most things,

[JayG]

I agree with DD, even though you can never be 100% sure.

Slugs and snails are a far more likely threat to emerging bean seedlings and it is those I would be watching out for.

[DD.]

Slugs and snails are a far more likely threat to emerging bean seedlings and it is those I would be watching out for.

Which is why I prefer to put plants in, rather than seed as they are less prone to the slimey things.

[jsgreen89]

Ahh ok that's good to know. I'll just put plenty of slug pellets down then!

[8doubles]

A bit of fleece pegged to the canes would help give them a frost free start and keep the birds away from the slug pellets.

[DD.]

Why not start the beans off in pots and stick them in as plants? They will stand up to slugs better and you know that you're guaranteed a plant where you want one.

[JayG]

If you do decide to sow direct sow the seeds inside the line of canes; that will make netting or fleecing much easier until the plants are ready to start climbing (also lessens the chance of the plants getting accidentally trampled.)

[ex-cavator]

Ahh ok that's good to know. I'll just put plenty of slug pellets down then!

Please be aware that song thrushes, frogs, and hedgehogs are going to try and eat the slugs and snails you've just poisoned - do cover any areas you've pelleted in the hope this will protect them. Or try using a more wildlife friendly method of control like beer traps  instead  :happy:

[Pompey Spud]

homemade cloche from a fizzy drinks bottle over the sowed seed works well.

[PennyS]

Hi,

My problem here at home has always been slugs.  I've had to pot grow my beans and plant them out once established... makes a big difference to survival but even then, there's no guarantee  

I don't think I have a big slug problem at the lotty (different soil) so I'm hoping when I plant my beans out at the weekend, they'll be OK.   Although I may find that the pigeons want a go instead... so I might try some netting !!

Good luck!

[Hectare]

Just lost all of mine to frost during last week..I had put plants in and protected them with plastic bottle 'cloches'  but, sob sob, all are now brown and shrivelled.

Thankfully I have some more plantz coming though in my shed, but I am very annoyed...

[jsgreen89]

Hmm so is the general consensus to sow the seeds directly, or go for the seedling approach?

I was planning on sowing 2 beneath each cane (on the inside) and maybe some extra in the middle of the patch, so i'd stand a good chance of getting enough seedlings. Is this ok?

[Pompey Spud]

seedling..hardened off..

Can take a bit of damage by slugs.

[DD.]

As previously stated - seedling.