Broad Beans Flowering

[Mozart321]

I noticed that the other day my broadbeans have started flowering. This seems very early.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine Mozart321. If you let us know where abouts you are, we will be better able to advise. What is early in the north of Scotland is not always early for those in the south of England. I have had one broad bean plant in flower most of the winter - but with nothing to pollinate it there have been no beans. I am now hoping it will survive the wild weather we are having at the moment.

[Mozart321]

Thanks for the welcome.
I am in SE London so it probably isn't that strange then.
I have another plant with a flower coming too.

[shirlthegirl43]

I would say be ready with the fleece if there is any cold weather about. Mind you, I have yet to actually grow a broad bean plant that produces edible beans!!! What else are you growing?

[Mozart321]

Broad Beans (aquadulce) and Peas (Feltham First) in containers and not much else on the allotment.
Looking forward to Feb/Mar planting though!

[Cutecumber]

I'm in south east London and my aquadulce are about 5-6 inches high. No flowers for me for a while!

Mine were sown in November. They're in a greenhouse but it's a cold garden.

[Skotch]

I planted Broad Bean Sutton in Autumn - they are about to flower. Meteor peas are still looking a bit stunted. Both grown without any winter protection on the allotment

[piskieinboots]

My Sutton look like they are about to get lively too

[moggssue]

Good grief, I havent even taken mine out of their packets yet!! Hope you all find some bees to pollinate your flowers!

[starwatcher]

Good grief, I havent even taken mine out of their packets yet!! Hope you all find some bees to pollinate your flowers!

your not on your own there moggssue mine are still in the packets, loo roll middles at the ready sow in a couple of weeks out in march worked a treat last year got a fantastic crop

[zazen999]

I left some asparagus peas in a solid hanging basketty type thing all winter. It is still green, not at all bashed about and the flowers are starting to reinvigorate.

I might have discovered a new overwintering vegetable. I do hope so. If it comes good and produces some decent asp peas I'll be chuffed to bits.

[gojiberry]

Sowed my broad beans in Oct and like most they have been bashed about a bit but that is normal for plants overwintering. Mine have some nice new shoots sprouting from lower down the plant and the new shoots are looking strong and healthy. Don't think it will be long before flowers start to appear. Don't know if they need polinating as I have never had problems with the beans forming in the past. Only hope the bad weather forcast for the week-end doesn't do any damage , may get a bit of fleece out.

[roitelet]

Insects are needed for pollination so if the beans flower too early or there is a cold snap when they are flowering the result is very few or no beans at all.

It is a problem I have had with Broad beans several times and the only remedy is successional sowing so if the first lot don't get pollinated then a later sowing may.

Best of luck

[Janco]

My Autumn sown broad beans are full of flower! So far they are coping with the wind and rain and I have seen a few pollinating insects about. I grow them every year and usually get a reasonable crop but........ every year is different!

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh well, we had a really wild morning here with sideways heavy rain and strong winds. My poor wee broad bean has been snapped in half. No worries, I will sow some more soon.