Odd runner bean failure

frivolous_fay

Hi all,

Trying dwarf runner beans on the patio this year but I was a bit surprised by the germination rate.

4 beans, 4 pots, same soil, planted same day, plastic tray cover on top.
2 bean seedlings, looking pretty good.
Got curious about the remaining two today - dug them out... both rotten... phew, what a pong.

Is this a normal fail rate? When I saw how fast and vigorous the seedlings were, it gave me the impression that beans were pretty foolproof!

tomsolomon

Too wet or too deep in the compost or wrong compost. What kind of compost did you use?
I always try to go for John Innes No1 or 2 for seed sowing these days, multi purpose can be a little hit and miss.

It's usually a good idea to put two beans into each pot. If they both germinate then you can pull out the smaller of the two seedlings. I've also been saving my toilet roll tubes for the last 12 months. All of my runners, dwarfs, peas and sweetcorn go into the tubes....

frivolous_fay

Same compost in all 4 pots, yes it was probably all purpose.
All sitting in the same tray, (not standing in water) so I don't know how two could have been wetter than the other two.
I've been saving loo roll tubes... I had a really stupid idea to put carrots in em! Don't know if that would work though...

conradmum

I have read a theory that states you should sow them so they're standing vertically, so that water can't collect on the flat surface of the bean.

frivolous_fay

conradmum wrote: »

I have read a theory that states you should sow them so they're standing vertically, so that water can't collect on the flat surface of the bean.

Makes sense - but they were all vertical

conradmum

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Makes sense - but they were all vertical

Bad luck? Never mind, plenty of time for these yet.

tanith

I always plant two to a pot too... just pop in some more

Smoffi

I have my beans in multipurpose compost.. the only thing I have done this year different to any year is... I started them growing INSIDE.. waited till they had grown about 1 inch and then hardened them off slowly outside during the day

Primrose

Although I have been growing beans for many years I still have problems getting a reasonable germination rate and suspect many of my problems have been due to over watering. They seem to rot very quickly and some of the multi purpose composts can stay quite wet.