Do you know the problem? Have you sowed your beans neatly in rows in the garden, watered them, waited for days and nothing happened? If the beans do not germinate, there can be a variety of reasons. Below we share the five most common causes.
Why aren't my beans sprouting?
If beans do not germinate, this may be due to seeds that are too old or stored incorrectly, too dry, the soil is too cold or the wrong sowing depth. To ensure optimal germination, use fresh seeds and observe the right conditions.
What could be the reason if the beans don't germinate?
Every now and then it happens that beans germinate poorly. The reasons are varied, but there is usually one of the following reasons behind it:
- Seeds too old
- Seeds stored incorrectly
- Too much dryness
- Floor too cold
- wrong seeding depth
Seeds too old
Bean seeds should not be stored for longer than four years. After that, the ability to germinate decreases rapidly. However, even seeds that are two or three years old can have problems germinating, especially if they have been stored incorrectly.
Seeds stored incorrectly
The bean seeds must always be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Direct sunlight and moisture can have a lasting effect on germination.
Too much dryness
Bean seeds are watered thoroughly after sowing and must not under any circumstances dry out until they germinate. If a germinating seed is faced with drought, it will die and will not germinate again.
Floor too cold
Bean seeds need a minimum temperature of 5°C. If the temperatures fall below this, the young seedlings die. However, it is advisable not to sow the beans until the soil temperature is above 10°C. This accelerates germination and helps eliminate all risks. In general: the warmer the soil, the better the beans germinate.
Wrong seeding depth
Beans must not be sown too deeply. The sowing depth should be a maximum of three centimeters. If the seeds are sown too deep, this can also mean that they germinate poorly.
This is the best way to germinate beans
To ensure that your beans germinate well, you should proceed as follows:
- Use seeds that are no older than three years.
- Soak your bean seeds overnight.
- Sow your beans at a maximum seeding depth of 3cm with the specified planting distance.
- Water the beans well.
- Ensure that the soil never dries out.
Tip
If you want to be on the safe side when it comes to temperature and humidity, grow the seeds in seed pots (€13.00 on Amazon) and put a piece of cling film over them. This keeps the seeds moist and warm.