over-wintering beans

[Capsid]

But cannot you sow in spring and get a succession crop of beans later ?
Much the same as you do peas.

Maybe, but you won't get an earlier crop. I was eating them by the end of May whereas the spring sown beans weren't ready until a month later.

[Snadger]

I have to point out that only certain varieties of broad bean are suitable for overwintering...............check seed packet for info. Aquadulce Claudia is the main one though!

[Flobalob]

Just checked my stash of veg seeds. Low and behold i have a packet of Aquadulce Claudia. So i will give them a go. I will start them of in modules this week and hoping by the time they are ready to be planted outdoors the peas will have been harvested and the ground prepared..Does that sound ok ?
Also can these same beans be planted as a main crop in spring ?
If not I have 30 seeds free to anyone for SAE.

[Capsid]

Yep, you can sow them in spring too Flobalob. I presume you like broad beans! One sowing is enough for my family.

[Alison]

It's quite early to be sowing broad beans in my experience, I sow next month as otherwise they can get rather tall in the autumn and are then more susceptible to winter weather damage when we get some hideous storm in January!

[Sonata]

My packet of Aquadulce Claudia says to sow in October, so I was going to do that..quite like the idea of sowing in pots rather than the ground though (now that I have my fancy ickly blow away greenhouse thingie).

[rustylady]

Broad beans maybe, runner beans definitely not.

[Two_Sheds]

My packet of Aquadulce Claudia says to sow in October, so I was going to do that

late October, or November.
You don't want tall plants, you just want about a 4 inch tall plant with a good root system.
The foliage won't grow over winter, but the roots will establish, then they will shoot away in March and give you an early crop.

If you sow too early, you will get luscious tall plants which will simply get battered by winter gales and you'll lose the lot.

Small is beautiful

[Sonata]

Ah, so I have to try this patience thing eh?

We're already getting terrible winds here. My £1 "polytunnel" from poundland has been blown around rather a lot.