Broad Beans

[T8Ter]

Much to my surprise my over wintered Broad Beans have survived and are in flower. Hopefully a nice early crop.

[Pies]

Looks good,how did you manage to keep them over winter and be in flower now.Mine are only 8" tall

[T8Ter]

They're in a container against a shed wall, so pretty protected, I put Fleece over them and cleared the worst of snow/frost on them during the bad weather, I lost a few and as you can see some of these still have frost burn on them but they are doing well and should really take off now the weather is warming up a bit.

[ann-the-nan]

Broad beans

Lucky you! Mine succumbed to the VERY severe frost we had earlier this year, in spite of being under a cloche. Even the next door neighbours lost their BB.s.

[T8Ter]

They are a "short" variety, Sutton, which are (evidently) suitable for overwintering, normally I'd grow Aquadulce in open ground but didn't have room for them this year. Still, 'tis a long way to go between flower and fruit

[northepaul]

Mine survived the snow, frost and all, are about 8" (Aquadulce) but no signs of flowers yet...isnt it a bit early?

[oldie]

Mine flowered early January but then succumed to the frost. New ones in loo rolls going in this week.

[Lazgaot]

I've just planted another two lots after my autumn sowings got hammered.

[Paulottie]

Mine survived the snow, frost and all, are about 8" (Aquadulce) but no signs of flowers yet...isnt it a bit early?

Same as: Outside with no protection and lost about 30% of the rows but they've picked up in the last few days.

From the pictures looks like their's are in pots.

[sarraceniac]

Mine will not be nice and early. I didn't plant until early February and then, after germination, moved them to the cold greenhouse. Every single one is healthy and today I planted out. I now need some beer traps. Last year I lost about 50% to slugs.

[T8Ter]

Same as: Outside with no protection and lost about 30% of the rows but they've picked up in the last few days.

From the pictures looks like their's are in pots.

Yes Paul, they are in a container (one of the potato pots I used last year) and were quite well sheltered against the shed wall. Whether the flowers get pollinated may be another matter as I've not seen a single bee yet.

[gojiberry]

You may be lucky with your bean pollination as the weather is quite warm during the day and there are plenty of insects that pollinate flowers other than bees. You could also get the paint brush out but BB's are not the easiest of flowers to hand pollinate.

Ian