Do I need to do my beans a different way

15 years ago

I have 3 different types of bush beans. Mountaineer 1/2 runner, Blue Lake, and Dwarf Horticulture. When I planted them I planted 1 seed per hole. I did not soak them or anything like that. The Mountaineer 1/2 runners all came up except 1 or 2. The problem is the Dwarf Horticulture and the Blue Lakes. Not even 50% germinated. I have planted more in place of the ones that didn't take off. I am getting ready to plant a second batch of each. Should I soak them or do something different than I did last time? Since then I have gotten Cherokee Trail of Tears, Dragon's Tongue, and Jacob's Cattle all of which I am gonna plant this weekend.

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Comments (7)

farmerdilla
15 years ago
If you planted each of three under identical conditions, I would suspect the seed quality of the two which did not germinate. Soaking will get them up faster in hot dry weather, but if you have adequate moisture in the planting bed, the most you will gain is a couple of days. You may want to do a germination test on your seeds. I just plant them in cups filled with a good growing medium, but you can get get the same results wrapping them in a wet paper towel. You just want to see the percentage that will sprout under ideal conditions. Ten seeds is sufficient for a test.
oldroser
15 years ago
Why are you planting beans in a 'hole?' I make a shallow trench (about an inch or two deep), plant bean seed in the row and then cover by raking soil over the top to level the trench. And tamp down with the business end of the rake.
If you plant them too deep, especially in early spring, they won't come up but you need to plant a bit deeper in hot, dry weather.
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Booberry hit it on the nose on what beans need to germinate. In good warm moist soil they will be fully up within a week. I have the best stand if I plant a day or two after a good rain. Allow the soil to dry only to the point that it can be tilled easily without clumping. Then plant and hope it does'nt rain for a few days. In about three days the beans will start popping up. If it rains within three days after planting the ground compacts and forms a crust making it hard for the beans to break through and many will rot in the ground. If there is no forcast for rain I will soak the area well then till the next day to break up the soil and plant. I get a perfect stand everytime. If when it is time to plant and the forcast is rain and the ground is already wet, I start the plants in pots and transplant. This is also what I do for rare beans that I only have a few seed of. The only seed I have ever soaked and every heard of soaking was Okra until these past couple of post. In my opinion I see no need for it and it would seem there is a greater chance of rot. Rodger
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Belgianpup
15 years ago
Oldroser, YOU may make a trench, put the seeds down, and cover the trench, but others of us just line the beans up and go POKE, POKE, POKE! 8-)

It's really more fun that way!

Sue
Annie
15 years ago
Sue,

That is how I plant beans, too.
Also, peas, okra, squash, melons, pumpkins, cukes, and corn.

POKE! POKE! POKE!
(hehehe)

Annie
dapper
Original Author
15 years ago
ok, I poke a hole, then I drop the bean in and cover, then pat the soil a little. I do SFG in raised beds, and I am using mushroom compost from Monterey Mushroom. My corn is growing like crazy, so are the 1/2` runners and most everything else. Just those 2 different varieties of beans didn't even come up. I wonder if I am actually watering enough. I am so worried that I will water too much. Wonder if that is my problem.
mark_b_2008
15 years ago
dapper,

Is this your first year in a SFG? The first year I planted some beans a whole lot didn't come up well. The second year they did much better. I think it takes awhile for the soil and all the microorganisms to get going. Seems it all starts working better. Or at least that is how it is going so far for me.
Belgianpup
15 years ago
Why not carefully dig up a few of your non-sprouting beans and see what they look like? If they're sprouting, maybe they're just slow. If they haven't, give them a squeeze and see if they're all mush inside because they're rotting.

Sue

Do I need to do my beans a different way

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farmerdilla

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Do I need to do my beans a different way

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farmerdilla

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