Sowing beans

[WendyS]

One for the gardeners - When you sow your beans do you sow them vertically or horizontally, and do you think it makes any difference?

[Lonnie]

I've been growing Runner Beans for years, and i've found it doesn't seem to to matter which way up they are planted, provided the bed is well prepared, they always come through. Before I make a fool of myself and start offering unneeded advice, is this the first time your growing beans?.

[WendyS]

No Lonnie, I've grown them for years, but have had real problems this year growing the Blue Lake & Cobra varieties of climbing French Beans because many of them (despite being from fresh packets) haven't germinated. I sowed Runner Beans and Borlotti (Pink variegated skinned beans) at the same time as the Blue Lake & Crobra. and whilst the others germinated quickly the latter two varieties have been singularly unsuccessful. This is what made me wonder whether I should have sown them slightly differently.

[Lonnie]

You've got me interested now, i've never grown those, so even for myself, it will be interesting to find out, I belong to 'Which online', they have experts ready to answer questions, i'll bive them a go, and see what they say.

[WendyS]

Thanks Lonnie - will be interested in any feedback you can get. I like to grow some climbing French beans for several reasons - they are round beans rather than the flat Runner beans, which are nicer with tomato salads, they have white flowers, and for some reason don't seem to wilt so much in our garden when it's dry and hot. This year I'm also experimenting with a few purple climbing French Beans (which turn green when cooked) as I grew the dwaft Purple variety last year successfully.

[Lonnie]

Hi Wendy,

I was quite suprised, wasn't expecting an answer today, however, what the young lady says, is that both, being of the French variety, they are half hardy, and therefore completely susceptible to frost, and shouldn't be grown in soils that are heavy, acid or lime, and shouldn't be grown in a bed if itwas last used for beans, as for which way round, she puts all her beans in horizontally, but thats all she said on it.

I hope this is at least some use.

[WendyS]

Top marks for speed of response Lonnie Many thanks for the enlightening reply about their hardiness and soil conditions. I normally start my beans off indoors and don't plant out until risk of frost has disappeared but it's fascinating to sow all the beans at the same time and see the difference in germination times. Runners and Borlotti (Red streaked skins) germinate twice as quickly and hardly ever fail.

I grow climbing beans and tomatoes against a south facing fence and every year swap their positions over to avoid pest build up in the soil. Not quite an ideal rotation plan, I know, but in a smallish garden and them both being tall growers, they would completely overshadow my vegetable patch. Do you save your own bean seed by the way? (One interesting thing I discovered 2 years ago. I saved my own climbing French bean seed. Sowed it the following year and they all came out as the dwarf variety !!)

[Lonnie]

Hi Wedy, no, the only seeds I keep, are the annuals for the borders, I used to, but I only have a limited time now, one thing you may find interesting, I grow Australian 'Crystal Apple' Cucumbers, they are an outdoors type, a wonderful taste, but have a really thick skin, every so often, I try something new, and if I like it, stick with it.

[WendyS]

Was interested in your outside cucumbers Lonnie as they sound rather unusual. I don't have a greenhouse but grow the Mini Patio type cumcumber in my south facing border which grow to 6-8" long and have a real crisp & cruncy texture as opposed to the watery slimy texture of the commercial type. Am not sure I've seen your variety on sale - are they advertised in any of the seed catalogues or can you buy the packets in garden centres?