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Post by oldmobie on May 3, 2015 21:47:20 GMT -5
Last year, most of my green beans germinated poorly. One of the possible causes mentioned to me was cold wet soil. Also the soil there is mostly clay and rock, so they weren't easy to plant.  So this year we added shallow raised beds about 3" deep, filled with a mix of fertilized potting soil and compost.  Obviously, it'll be well drained, so wet should be less of an issue. But I've read that raised beds warm up faster than the ground does. Does anyone know how much sooner I can plant as a result? Last year I planted on 5-17. That first planting, my two best varieties germinated 100%. The other three or four germinated less than 50%, even though I planted twice more, two weeks apart. What do you guys think? Should I plant right away, hoping I'm two weeks ahead in soil warming, or wait? If I wait, how long should I wait? |
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on May 3, 2015 23:12:04 GMT -5
Because common beans are quite susceptible to frost, I plant them about 2 weeks after our last average frost date.
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Post by oldmobie on May 3, 2015 23:19:54 GMT -5
Because common beans are quite susceptible to frost, I plant them about 2 weeks after our last average frost date. According to google, my average last frost is between 4-11 and 4-20, though 2014's last frost was 4-29. So that target date is tomorrow. I'll talk with my wife. Looks like I may plant in the next day or two. Thank you! |
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Post by philagardener on May 4, 2015 5:39:41 GMT -5
You can always throw a blanket over the bed if the seedlings are small and we get a cold night or two.
Sometimes cooler soil can slow germination and seeds can rot. I've had good luck starting an early set in pots and planting them out as the first pair of true leaves expands.
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Post by reed on May 4, 2015 5:46:43 GMT -5
I have a little patch of bush beans up about six inches, putting in a lot of pole beans today. Our last frost is supposedly around 5-15. I have built up a large stock of seed so if I have to replant it's ok. They don't like cold or cold damp but I think you would be fine to go ahead and plant. I'v heard but can't say for sure that white seeded ones are more prone to rot than brown.
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Post by oldmobie on May 4, 2015 11:18:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the input everyone! We've decided to plant pole beans at our next convenience, probably today or tomorrow. After they grow a bit, maybe when they start to climb, we'll plant the bush beans next to them. We're hoping that with the head-start, and difference in height, that shading won't be an issue.
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Post by Al on May 5, 2015 5:39:26 GMT -5
I find all pea & beans very prone to rotting in cold soil, even in a container in a greenhouse if I wet the earth a little too much they can turn to mush. So I try to give heat to germinate quickly, often I will not water at all, & I never pre-soak.
I did have success with direct sown broad beans, but I pre-warmed the ground with clear polythene, this stayed in place on hoops until the beans were a couple of inches high. I cannot understand how any wild legume ever survived a Scottish winter. Maybe they didn't, & peas etc. are naturally a plant of arid regions? Better go & bring that tray of French Beans into the warm!
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Post by imgrimmer on May 5, 2015 15:57:31 GMT -5
There is a variety, actually different lines called Ice Bean (Eisbohne) in Germany only cultivated by amateur gardeners. I sow them end of February germination is around 1 of may or whenever wheather is getting warmer. It happened only once that germinated beans took some frost, many survived many died, since then I never had the chance to test it again. They germinate after the last frost night. at least they don`t rot in cold ground. A big minus is they set fruit very late. This spring I sow a mix of all of my bean varieties like Ice Beans at the end of february, some days ago some started to germinate. It seems there is more potential in my beans as supposed. sorry for my expression, I am too tired  |
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Post by kyredneck on May 28, 2015 5:20:15 GMT -5
Because common beans are quite susceptible to frost, I plant them about 2 weeks after our last average frost date. ....ditto, unless I've got plenty of seed to replant in case the frost does get them, plus there's always the Remay cloth as backup if do plant early.
Mid-April expected last frost here; general rule May 1 safe for planting frost sensitive stuff.
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