overwintering broad beans..is it worth it?

[cptncrackoff]

[/SIZE]Hi all, i've been considering planting some 'sutton' broad beans to overwinter under glass and popping out in early spring.
I was just wondering if anyone has any great experiences of doing this!?
I have read that the overwintered beans may start producing mid to late june, if i can get the spring planting out early enough they will be ready late june/very early july!?

any thoughts!?

[Fruit&2veg]

Have overwintered the Sutton succesfully from an outdoor sowing made in late October,But personally prefer Aquadulce for this purpose.
Apart from an earlier crop, one reason I like an autumn sowing is, in the event of a very wet spring, which we have now and then I dont have to wait for soil conditions to improve before I can start sowing, and at least its one less task at the busiest time!
So, in answer to your question, I would say yes, well worth a try.

[Alison]

To be honest I don't think it is worth it as mine always seem to get quite badly damaged over the winter (especially the last couple of years) and only seem to end up being about a week earlier than normal. Having said that, I'm going to sow a few in the polytunnel this year so will see how that goes.

[binley100]

I've found it better to sow some late jan early feb in loo rolls to plant out when conditions are right and then sow some seeds in the ground as well when the plants go out .......

[Bren In Pots]

I'm with Binley this year mine were sown first week in February and we ate the first beans on 1 July.

[Fruit&2veg]

Forgot to add, we are generally pretty lucky down here and usually escape the worst of the really harsh weather, so that also has a bearing

[Jeanied]

I had good success last winter with aquadulce sown in late October - the year before that I lost all the autumn sown suttons. The last two winters have been snowy on my plot.

[northepaul]

I've grown overwintered broadies the past two years, through freezing and snow and had a lovely early crop the following year. One big advantage is : no (or a lot less) blackfly!

[bearded bloke]

I intend to put some Sutton under a cheapo Wilco polycloche to overwinter,it was only a 50p pack in the Wyevale sale so not an expensive experiment if it fails

[Two_Sheds]

I always sow my broadies direct in November (not too early because any tall lush green growth will get battered by harsh winter weather).
They just have time to put down their roots and about 4" of green tops before the dark days stops them in their tracks.

Then, they take off in spring to give me beans in May.

The best thing about them is that, because they are older and tough by the time May comes, the blackfly mostly leave them alone.

(I used to use Super Aquadulce , but now several years on all my varieties have mingled and so my variety is now a mongrel mixture of Crimson Flowered, Aque, Super Aqua, PW's Witkiem Manita and Snadger's Red Epicure). The biggest best ones get saved again for next year.

[Alison]

I think I might be the only person on here who doesn't suffer from black fly so don't worry about avoiding it. Might shove a few direct sow in if I get round to it.

[cptncrackoff]

Wow, thanks for all your replies!!
I think i will give it a go, speaking to someone at work he also said less bugs and a feed before the end of may, my only trouble now is lack of space...the greenhouse is empty, would that be too warm??
thanks again!
jon

[Ananke]

I hope it is worth it, I planted a couple of rows today. i've never grown or eaten broadbeans so it's very exciting

[Two_Sheds]

the greenhouse is empty, would that be too warm??

If you sow in November, that should be OK. Get them out again as soon as the weather starts to ease off in very early spring (harden them off before they go out).

I grew some in the gh last year (school's leftovers) and they grew too tall & floppy. They flowered but didn't pod (March): they were too weak. The ones outside in the ground did really well though.

[Alison]

I grew some in the polytunnel last spring. Sown Jan in root trainers, planted out late Feb and eaten before the end of May, only a few plants but they did very well and were earlier than the outdoor ones.