2026 Little Easy Bean Network – Plant A Garden, Water Your Soul, Join Our Family

[oxbow farm]

I rototilled a few volunteer bean plants in my biggest high tunnel. I had pulled plants and dried them down in the aisles between the beds last fall and some beans obviously ended up all over the ground. I was surprised to see they had germinated on their own in the cool conditions we had, but it gets lots warmer in the high tunnel.

My first successions of peas are already up.

 

[Rillowen]

I rototilled a few volunteer bean plants in my biggest high tunnel. I had pulled plants and dried them down in the aisles between the beds last fall and some beans obviously ended up all over the ground. I was surprised to see they had germinated on their own in the cool conditions we had, but it gets lots warmer in the high tunnel.

My first successions of peas are already up.

I have flowers on my first pea! I used the open bottle trick to give the sprouts and roots some protection, it seems to have worked well, it is thriving!

 

[Blue-Jay]

The soil temps were at 60, for a nice long time, which is part of why I figured it would be ok. They are still there, so hopefully the beans will be ok. If we could stop getting these random cold snaps we would be golden!

We will probably stop getting these cold snaps after about the 20th of May. I'm getting the same cool downs here that you are. I plant beans when it starts feeling a bit summery outside.

 

[Rillowen]

We will probably stop getting these cold snaps after about the 20th of May. I'm getting the same cool downs here that you are. I plant beans when it starts feeling a bit summery outside.

"Summery"? We have had 80-85 for most of the past 2 months! but the weather this year is crazy I probably should have assumed that and waited, but everything seems fine anyway. Nothing (not even the melons) has died, or even winthered!

 

[Blue-Jay]

"Summery"?

I should have said consistantly. Not 80 for a day or two then down in the 40's to 50's for daytime highs. 80's to 70's for highs. 65 for the worst high after a 80 day degree or so. It's the Jet Stream gone crazy.

 

[heirloomgal]

I am finally seeing weather on the horizon that I can start the beans in. I need to be able to put the pots outside once they sprout, and I have no intention of starting any until I'm sure that can be done. I'm fine with bringing them in and out for the night until I can plant them in the ground, but warm sunny days are a must. End of next week is looking good right now, maybe Thursday -Friday.

 

[Heliena]

After last years total loss of a May for directly sown seeds, I won't be touching the beans until the lows and highs tighten a bit. And I am probably starting everything in a seed tray a week or two ahead of time and transplanting out when the first set of true leaves débuts. I got to listen to an old permaculture farmer around here talk about how he does his cranberry bean seeds, and how he just sews them all in a flat tray (no cells) and does the same thing, and transplants out with the sprouting of the first true leaves. He also had some wonderful wisdom about growing them in general, and how at the end of the season he just cuts the whole plant at the base and hangs them in his garage for when he has idle hands in the winter. It has me daydreaming of some sort of garlic, bean, dried flower and herb braided arrangement that keeps me company until the spring. According to the almanac (I know... I know. But seriously, the closest weather radar to us is on the other side of a mountain range, and it hasn't betrayed me yet) I will be green light after the 20th.