Broad beans gone limp

[Twoflower]

Hi all
I have grown some broad beans from seed and they were doing well,
I potted into bigger pots and they continued well ,
Now i have planted out they have gone limp and fallen over -
Please help -

Thanks

[Creemteez]

Hi two-flower.
Where abouts are you in the country? It sounds as if your beans are suffering from shock? Did you harden them off (put them outside for a few hours a day, but bring them in at night) before planting into the ground?
Did you water them in after planting? All plants need a good dousing when they're first planted to settle them in.
As long as you don't have any hard frosts, they should recover - though covering each one with a cut off pop bottle (a mini greenhouse) will protect them not only from the cold, but any marauding slugs or snails.
Good luck!

[Twoflower]

hiya -
I live in devon - they were hardened up over a couple of weeks and started to go a little limp then they got a hell of a watering in ( it rained for hours when they went in) - will try the pop bottle thing - thanks
Trying to upload a photo

[taff]

they look a bit leggy to be honest...

[Twoflower]

hi

they look a bit leggy to be honest...

ok thanks for that comment and diagnosis but.......................
What does that mean? and how can it be helped or cured?
can you explain a bit please
Thanks

[Vince G]

was just gonna say that taff, I had some that looked like that a couple of years ago so I prefer to overwinter them now as they seem to get a few sturdy branches on them before it gets cold, and they then seem a lot more solid in the spring.

With my leggy ones, I staked and tied them and they did pick up and we got a few feeds, but in Devon I think I'd be having a go at overwintering next year.

By "leggy, we mean the stems have grown a bit too long and spindly too quickly, hence they're a bit floppy when the heavier leaves start to form at the top of the plant

[taff]

thanks vince

sorry twoflower, I didn't realise this was in new shoots till just now, otherwise i would have explained, honest!!

[Two_Sheds]

the stems have grown a bit too long and spindly too quickly ...

... caused by being too warm, and/or not having enough light.

Broadies are really cold tolerant, so they should be started in a cold frame or unheated (cold) greenhouse, not indoors

[salome2001]

mine went straight in the ground in November, got cloched in the snow (others on the plot just left them) and both theirs and mine are thick stemmed and flowering madly. don't bother with pots next year (unless you are testing manure..)

[Kaiya]

Mine started in a washing up bowl outside in Oct, went out into the ground early Nov, no protection, survived the snow fine but I lost half to the frost in Feb. Those that survived, half are flowering, half are sad specimens. Since I'm not even mad keen on broad beans I don't think I'll bother next year! Might try a different type of bean.