I am new both to this forum and gardening in general, and look forward to tapping into the great wealth of knowledge contained in this forums members experience!

Allow me to introduce my garden. I have fifteen 5 gallon buckets filled with Canadian peat potting mix. I have them under 'daylight' fluorescent tubes about 3" from the top of the plants. The lights are on an 18/6 schedule. I have been applying Miracle Gro Tomato Food fert (18-18-21) about once a week, although more diluted than the box recommends. They recommend 1 tablespoon per gallon. I am using half a teaspoon per 2 liters. I usually spread 4 liters out among 12 5galln buckets. Also they are indoors, room temp for the time being. I am planning on moving the buckets outside once the night time temperatures come up a bit more, and the thread of storms passes.

Now onto the green beans specifically. They are about 4 inches tall, with about 4-5 sets of leaves (some 3), and they seem to be setting flower already. I did start them a bit too early, but being indoors under artificial light I didnt think it would be a problem.

There are growths coming from between the branch nodes, some are a bit fuzzy like a new set of curled up leaves. Others are smooth and look like a small pod. I picked one off and dissected it and decided it was a flower. Part of me wants to pinch out the flowers and possibly the internode leaf sets, but another part of me wonders if maybe this is normal or should be left alone.

Should I lift the lights up a bit to get them to reach up and grow taller for more light? Is an 18 hour photoperiod detrimental to their growth? What factors would be involved with setting flower at 4 inches tall? Should I scrap these greenbeans and start new ones, or are they worth saving?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've tried to use the correct terminology, and include all information necessary to solve the confusion.