Climbing beans screaming to be planted out

[Chantal]

I wouldn't recommend planting out until there is no chance of a frost, unless you are prepared to lose the lot. You may get lucky, have no frost and a bumper crop, but it's a big risk.

I plant out in June and no sooner and the past couple of years have been flippin' cold during the first week in June too.

[Sarah]

Thanks Chantal, I thought so. I haven't even sown mine yet. Well I did try to tell her.
We also can't use any slug pellets in case the children eat them, so if the poor beans don't get frostbite, they'll have their heads munched off anyway.

[Primrose]

Sarah, It probably is a bit early, but I've planted out my first few climbing French Beans. Each one is individually protected with a plastic mineral water bottle with the bottom cut off and a stick poked through it to stop the wind blowing it off.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Sarah, as you might have already read, i have planted out some French and Runner beans, me being the biggest optimist.
I just can't resist being a little daring.

As for hardening off French beans, they can only be acclimatized to outside temperatures. And these temperatures don't include ones that dip down towards freezing.
So you are right to be concerned about low temperatures, maybe you could go out after work and cover them over each day.

But maybe since he is a professional, he knows ways of hardening things off that i don't.

[Sarah]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I knew I was right as I've been reading this thread! It's best not to argue with my boss though, so I'll just have to keep quiet and hope for the best! The runners went in today and the French are going in tomorrow. I might make some bottle cloches tonight.