A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Purple Hyacinth Beans

I need help or advice...I started some seeds March 11 and there is still no sign of germination. How long does it take? And is there some special requirement for getting them to sprout, I have more seed(beans) if I need to start over. Any help will be appreciated.

Comfrey, Mine took a couple of weeks to sprout but once they did, they took off. I started mine in a seed house under a light. Now they are in the laundry room in bigger pots but still under a light during the day. I have trimmed most of them back to encourage outward instead of upward growth and so far so good.

Ok...well maybe these will still sprout, I have these in pots inside plastic bag, and under the lights just in case they needed the light. So it has not been a full 2 weeks yet, I don't have very much patience

It took 13 days for my Hycinthia bean vine to sprout. I didn't soak it and used regular potting soil. I didn't tent it and the average temperature inside is 70*F. They are sitting in an east facing window. Hope that helps.

I am sure they will comfrey, I think they just take a lil more time than we are willing to give them.

Comfrey I started my hyiacnth bean vine I believe it was in January I started moon flower seeds at the same time tho I did nick and soaked them first for 2 days and just put in moist peat moss the moon flower came up first and about 8 days later came the bean vine I finally planted the hy bn vine outside a week ago maybe they just take longer
this is my first year for them in TX so we'll see!

I tell you one thing, once they take off they really take off! Mine were usually a little slow to pop up...and then a little slow to get going once transplanted...then they grow like crazy!

Ok..I am still waiting and watching not being patient though!

I found that they fought with one another so I only got one per pot. How did you do yours?

I'm not sure who you were asking the question too, but I put two in each cup and I had 4 cups needless to say only 3 made it out strong 2 from 1 cup 1 from another the one by it's self was weak but I ground planted it any way I also planted 3 seeds outside about 2 weeks before we got that hard rain I thought maybe it washed them away but it didn't I looked today and they did move from the rain but they're stead fast and growing.

I did soak mine for a little while, and I only put three in a flat 6" round container...I have more seed so I think I'll try again doing it alittle different, I still haven't given up on the pot I planted, but just in case.

Ok, I gave up on the first try at getting these to sprout. I started a new batch of seeds/beans, this time I didn't soak them, instead I nicked them and and they sprouted in 3 days.

Yay Comfrey!!!

What did you name them?

I've been thinking about sprouting a couple of more. I'll definitely nick them since that worked so well for you. I love the look of them and hope to be able to trade for the other colors this year.

They aren't old enough yet, I have to wait for them to tell me what they want thier names to be.

My mom bought some Hyacinth Beans, I told her I would send her some, but she didn't want to wait...She is going to start hers outdoors in the ground, and it is way too early for her to start them, so she has to wait anyway. But I was talking to her about the seeds and how I nicked these and she opened her store bought package, they have a small hole in the end of them, So I am guessing they come (or some of them do) pre-nicked when you buy them commerically, Her packet says to also soak them for a few hours before planting.

i planted mine a week ago. they haven't sprouted yet, but i did cheat and dig one of them up to see what was going on. it was nice and plump, and starting to sprout a little appendage, so i guess everything is going okay. they're just slow to start.
i don't know anything about gardening, so please forgive my ignorance when i enquire about 'nicking' the seed. how skillful must one be in the art of nicking to properly nick? and where would one nick a hyacinth bean? i didn't nick any of the ones i harvested from last year's bean. i didn't soak them either. should i have done this? do my little beans even have a chance?

Hi there - welcome to the best gardening forums on the internet!

I have grown these beans for about 5 years now, and have never nicked nor soaked them. It does take a few days for them to sprout, but once they do, they really take off! Just be a little more patient, and they will reward you with a nice flowering vine and then beans.

Do you have the white or purple variety?
Do you have hummingbirds there? They love the flowers on mine.

Lynne

I am very upset with mine. I should have just started them outside. I am going to get more seeds and do them when I start the other vines outside as well.

I don't know that it's NECESSARY to kick OR soak them, but it does hasten germination.

Instead of "nicking" hard seeds like those of a Hyacinth, I use an emery board & just sand down a spot on the outer "shell" of the seeds. It lets moisture get to the meat of the seed faster, so it can start to swell & make a sprout.

I did not have troubles with them sprouting at all, just keeping them indoors for this long. They are not liking it much at all.

hi all.
thanks for the welcome. i have the white variety. i can't find a lot of information on the white ones on the internet. i guess as for as the technical stuff goes, there isn't much difference. here's what they looked like last year:
not bad for a novice, eh?

oh... and there are no hummingbirds around here. only magpies.

I have the purple and look forward to getting some white in the future. That's one long bean you have there.

why... thank you.

i have purple and white, both sprouted nicely, but i have to put some more out because some of them didn't make it after transplant. i am going to put the rest of the seeds i am sprouting outside to sprout, it is supposed to be 91 again today, summer is here already :p :p

i think we had a grand total of 3 days of "spring" weeather.