Broad beans

[October]

When we got the allotment in March, I noticced lots of plots had what I thought were broad bean plants growing - a couple of feet high and with flowers on. So I thought [not a good thing really...!] that broad beans are planted in the autumn and flower in the spring.

So - I ordered some seeds, but when they came the packet said I should have planted them from Feb to April. Tsk. Do you think the ones I saw had grown that much in a few weeks if they were planted in Feb - ior are there different kinds and I just have the summer sort? Help! What shall I do? Shall I plant them anyway [they'll have to wait for the spuds to be dug up - first earlies] or will they keep till next Feb?

[Bex]

Hi October

There are a couple of varieties of Broad Bean that can be autumn sown,aquadulce claudia is one,this give you a crop before the spring sown, I'd say the ones you saw were autumn sown.

I should think your seeds will wait until autumn, is there a 'sow by' date on the packet?

[rustylady]

You can overwinter broad beans, and in a good season they do well though they can be susceptible to wind damage. I usually sow mine in Spring, and they're not far behind the autumn sown ones. If you have enough space why not try both ways? You do need to check on varieties, though.

[Snadger]

I sowed half a bed in autumn and half the bed in spring. Both lots are now exactly the same height and both are producing beans! It's amazing how things catch up!