April's edition of Country Living magazine fell into my hands recently, and served a reminder - if any were needed - that it's almost time to start sowing those runner bean and pea seeds.

Gardening editor Stephanie Donaldson's column in the magazine http://www.countryliving.co.uk/index.php/landing/9076 has space devoted to the various trays and systems available for raising these legumous plants, and here at Harrod Horticultural we've got them all!

What's more, I've had first hand experience of using the three methods Stephanie recommends; the rootrainer http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/search/product/Greenhouse+Equipment%5FPropagation/GPR-005.htm, the compact plant trainer http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/GPR-125.htm and the rowplanter http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/search/product/Greenhouse+Equipment%5FPropagation/GPR-629.htm, which of course we've mentioned in previous posts.

In fact, I've even got some runner and french beans growing in one of the rootrainers over at the Kitchen Garden at present - yes, they are early but I'm growing them specifically for our Harrod Horticultural stand at the forthcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show, widely recognised as the world's premier horticultural event http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2007/index.asp

Which method is best? Well, gardening is all about opinion and what works for you, so you'll just have to try them and see!

Don't forget - as with the tomatoes, we've also got organically certified runner and french bean seeds, along with the dwarf french bean variety Tendergreen, available here http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/category/Organic_Seeds/