Frightful Weather For Planting Beans

Well, the weather outside may be frightful...but those beans MUST go in. Cruel, but true--my back is against the wall.

Those beans were supposed to be planted in the middle of October, but due to circumstances it was not possible.
The beans were very late in arriving, they took longer to germinate and develop due to the weather conditions and last but not at all, least--the hardening off process was retarded because of the air and soil temps that we were (and still are) having.
The rain and snow. I just didn't have the heart to plant them out then. It all lead to me languishing in a sea of desperation and helplessness.
Well, you know what they say, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". I was finally able to shake-off this feeling of being under the thumb of Mother Nature and releasing my grip on the apron strings, I decided to carefully take things into my own hands. -- I resolved to plant the beanlets out. Not ALL of them, mind you...but about half. That way if they all die I will still have half a crop at least.

So, last weekend we gathered-up our courage and bundled up in wool sweaters and wax coats and headed off on our bikes. There was a bit of a headwind, but that warms one up.
When we got to the lottie it looked so sad and dead...but the plot cleared to received the bean plants looked inviting, albeit muddy and soft.

I went to the greenhouse and knelt down to greet my little green friends and flicked a few stems with my forefinger to test the turgor. They were stiff and as ready as they would ever be.
I had taken them off their high plank and put them on the ground with a couple of windows open to let them harden off. The temp in the greenhouse was coolish, but not quite as harsh as outside.

We got all out digging tools and a plank to kneel onto so that we wouldn't sink into the soft and loosely tilled soil. I brought out one of the containers with germinated seeds. I had used root trainers for this and when I opened the first root-trainer I was pleased to see the good degree of root development that had taken place in spite of all the poor conditions and timing.

We planted about half of the patch then took a little break to stretch the muscles and knees. We then went back and finished the project.
It was disconcerting that the same evening the temp got down to -4°C here at home, I wonder how cold it got out there on the flat and windswept lottie. Burrrrrrrr....
Well, two days later they are still standing tall and are showing no signs of wilting or frostbite. Fingers crossed.

I hope to get out to the garden this weekend to plant-out the rest of the beans in the new garden and to plant some Lathyrus seeds in those root trainers at last.

So here are some pics of the project: First is the bare plot waiting to be planted.

The broad beans in their root trainer. Nice roots there, but they could have been better.

Halfway through, we took a pause and looked-over our handiwork.

Finally the job was done and we could repair to the patio for some hot tea and bikkies. Netty came down to chat and look at our work and share a cuppa.

 

Those beans look fantastic Sjoerd! I hope the weather co-operates for you.
If I was closer, I would have come over to share a "cuppa" , chat, and meet Netty!

 

Sjoerd, you and the missus are certainly dedicated gardeners. The roots on those beans are fantastic. The results will be worth the hard work.

 

Thanks for your nice words folks.
chuckle--I guess one would have to be dedicated to garden in the winter....or just plain nuts!
I wish you could meet Netty, Netty---she is a real caution.

 

Beans

Good going, Sjoerd and partner. I just don't know how you coax those seeds into such strong seedlings.
Hope they do well for you.

Gardengater

 

Great looking beans Sjoerd.You are real great dedicated gardeners.I would not be digging in ice cold mud.Know way would you see me doing that.I would get so sick out in that wild and cold.

 

Oh, the poor little bean babies. It looks like they've had the best of care and I'm certain they'll come through this cold spell with flying colours.

I see you in my mind's eye, kneeling down and softly talking to those little plans, urging them to grow and apologizing for the bad weather.

 

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Droopy, don't tell that,-- Why, someone might think that I'd gone round the bend er somethin'.

 

I think your little seedlings look very nice. I sure do hope they make it, but being the gardener i know you are, i'm sure you got the Mrs or yourself knitting little bean sweaters to help them along,,,lol. Good luck Sjoerd, i'm sure they will grow nicely.

 

Jealous!

 

Welcome back from "vacation", EJ--I thhought that you had put yours in already.

Biita--"bean sweaters"--now THAT'S a novel idea. I could use fleece, I reckon.

Thanks for all your nice comments folks.

 

Yes, well, best laid plans of mice and men - mine are still sitting in their packet, next to the root trainer pots and the bag of compost! Life is passing my by in a whirl Sjoerd - spring sowing again for me. tut.

 

I enjoyed reading of your adventure-the saga of a True Gardener. Hope you get many delicious beans. 8)

 

Oh well, EJ...if it's any consolation, several broadbeans didn't germinate thios time so I shall have to do some spring planting as well. That works just fine too though.

Thanks Bethie, BTW--what sort of growing conditions do you have there in west TN??