Beans are the simplest crop to get started in the house while the weather is still too cold outside. Tomatoes and peppers are much slower and more sensitive to the cold. Beans are usually the first crop to be moved out into the garden when the weather permits.
Climbing beans are the basis for vertical gardening. They are ideal for growing beside walls using string. It is best to arrange the plants so their leaves do not touch the walls as snails use the walls to get to the upper leaves.
The first beans moved outside are for trial purposes and are kept in a protected position out of the wind. It is important to watch night time temperatures which can drop to 1 degree at this time of the year. This stage of hardening off the plants should continue until weather conditions have warmed.
The snails are all out of hibernation and eager to eat everything. It is interesting to note which types of beans the snails particularly target. As the beans grow and the stems harden off they are less troubled by snails.
The first row of beans planted into the raised bed are always at risk as soil temperatures can remain low at this time of year. If too cold the plants will die or will stop growing and remain stunted. It always seems a shame to line the first row up against the garden wall and wait to see what happens.