Runner beans - in too early?

begley

I got some runner beans on Saturday (98p for 5 plants!) And put them into pots outside. The plants themselves are about 6 inches, and looked ok. However, they're now really droopy, and not looking good at all, despite watering and attention! So, my question is, have I put them out in the garden too early? And what can I do to salvage them if I have? I've got some thin foam underlay left over from laminating, could I put some of that round/over them? Help and advice please!!! Thank you!

realfood

It really depends where you are in the UK, but it is too early for most of the Uk to plant out runner beans as they are very sensitive to cold and frost. The best you can do now is to cover them with cloches or plastic or fleece and hope for the best.

begley

I've covered them up with underlay, which is polystyrene sheet. Fingers crossed! Thanks!

LJM

ive only just potted up some today

Lotus-eater

I would have thought, that putting runners out till mid May at the earliest is not a good idea.
But if you've got them in pots, you can bring them in nights and put them out on warm days.
Trouble is they might be too big to go into the ground once the weather warms up.

Shops are a PITA, they sell stuff much too early and catch out the unaware.

I would get some seeds and sow some more now, mine have only just gone in. Even if the ones you have survive, they won't be good plants I would guess.

misskool

I was contemplating sweetcorn, runners and french beans and read it might be cold again next week :-(

Lotus-eater

I've sowed all mine a couple of days ago, but they are all still in the house of course.

chippy2u

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Shops are a PITA, they sell stuff much too early and catch out the unaware.

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My mate works in a garden centre and says that his boss always orders two lots of plants. One lot at Easter and the same order in May. The reason? He knows that most of the ones he sold at Easter will have been planted out and will have been killed off by frost, so he ends up selling two lots of plants! Apparently he calls this his 'Spring Bonus'!!

matt987106

i planted mine 8 days ago, they have loved the conservatory window cill and are now too tall and are falling over

funny thing is, all 75 of them have came through, so i have 75 plants and i know its too early to put them out, but i will have little choice by next week