Wintering beans anyone?

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
Does anyone plant broad beans in autumn and over winter them?
I got a delivery of seeds today, thanks to a website pointed out by Veggiechicken, and am starting to develop itchy hands for planting.
So was wondering if anyone wintered beans, if that's the right term?
And is there a specific one to go for?
If I've bought the wrong ones, never mind it means I'll have to go on line and buy some more.
Thanks

[lyndapet]

only tried rhem once but hungry rats/rabbits ate the lot and destroyed the nets covering them.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

[Noosner]

Aquadulce are a good variety for overwintering, NVG and I have done it a couple of times. Apparently overwintering can make them less susceptible to blackfly. I'm going to give it a go this year again but also do some spring planting, and see which comes out best.

I sent for some seeds from the site VC recommended, too and they arrived today! They had run out of Aquadulce, though they sent me another variety - Witkiem - which I've never tried before so that will be interesting.

So like you I'll have to re-order!

[arpoet]

Every time I have tried to sow them in autumn we have had bad frosty winters and lost most of em. I prefer to start em in the new year in a cool greenhouse and harden em of ready for spring planting. They soon catch up.

[Scarlet]

Similar to arpoet.....I start mine in my outside porch in modules early February. As soon as they have sprouted they get moved to the greenhouse.( I have a mouse problem and they will eat the beans if I try anything else!) they get potted on, hardened off and planted out as soon as they're a reasonable size. Doing it this way I get less casualties.

[Rocketron]

Start in pots late October. As soon as they're about 6" plant them out.
Broad beans are very hardy.
They will fruit long before blackfly arrive.

[noviceveggrower]

Start in pots late October. As soon as they're about 6" plant them out.
Broad beans are very hardy.
They will fruit long before blackfly arrive.

Thanks for the advice. Do you start them in a greenhouse?

[noviceveggrower]

Aquadulce are a good variety for overwintering, NVG and I have done it a couple of times. Apparently overwintering can make them less susceptible to blackfly. I'm going to give it a go this year again but also do some spring planting, and see which comes out best.

I sent for some seeds from the site VC recommended, too and they arrived today! They had run out of Aquadulce, though they sent me another variety - Witkiem - which I've never tried before so that will be interesting.

So like you I'll have to re-order!

I ordered Aquadulce to and I got my parcel today. Like you they were out of stock but instead I have got Imperial Green Longpod. Which I've never heard of before.

[bario1]

I overwinter a few beans just to get an early crop before my main ones which i start off in Feb. Last year they looked terrible by the time i put my Feb ones out despite the mild winter - all feeble and leggy, so i just cut them off at ground level and they re-sprouted and cropped about a month before the Feb ones.

[teakdesk]

Looking at the sowing times given by a well known seed supplier (rhymes with organ!) Aquadulce and Imperial Green Longpod have different characteristics.

For Aquaducle the say sow in: "January, February, September, October, November, December"

whereas for Imperial Green Longpod they say: "February, March, April, May"

The inference is that they do not recommend overwintering Imperial Green Longpod and suggest sowing later in spring as the ground has warmed whereas Aquadulce can be sown in Autumn and the cold of winter.


I'd email and query with your supplier!

[Two_Sheds]

I plant them every November, Aquedulce or Super Aquedulce. I lose a few to the winter but we rarely get more than a couple of frosts here on the coast so most of them make it.
They only crop a week or two earlier than the spring sown ones, but they are tougher plants so less susceptible to bean aphids (blackfly)

[Tripmeup]

I sow mine in November too and then some more in early Spring...best of both worlds...
Although, based on the mild winters of last 2 years, the ones done in November are much stronger plants and well worth taking the chance on...