Broad beans

[evie b]

Hello I;m new to the forum.
I want to grow some broad beans for next spring. When do I plant them and do I have to bring them on first.
Thanks Evie b.

[Flummery]

Broad beans are usually sown in Autumn (late - like November) or spring - February ish. They are ready to eat in July from a spring sowing, June from an autumn one. You don't get them to eat in spring - not round here anyway. Can you pop your location in your profile, which will help us to help you?

And welcome, of course!

[evie b]

Thanks Flummery.
Yes I live in the Bristol area.
Evie b

[gojiberry]

My broad beans are just coming into harvest time, should have the first ones this weekend. I'm only just down the M4 from you. They were sown in containers in Feb and planted out when large enough. I have tried autumn planted ones but didn't find I got beans any earlier. For an early sowing you need aquadulce claudia or the sutton (a dwarf growing bean plant)

Ian

[gojiberry]

Forgot to say welcome to the vine.

Ian

[maypril]

Broad beans are usually sown in Autumn (late - like November) or spring - February ish.

If you're new to it, sow them in early spring after the frosts have been and gone.

You can sow in autumn/early winter but it's more a specialist thing for eager growers. You need to choose hardy varieties and either then you will lose a few plants especially in a hard winter (like the one we just had).

If you're new to broad beans, sow in spring. Even though you sow months later, your harvest will only be delayed a few weeks compared to the early autumn/winter sowings.

Leave the autumn/winter sowings until you're confident in growing under harsh conditions.

[Two_Sheds]

You could have a go at November sowing though: let's face it, there's not much else to plant then, and you'll only lose a few seeds by trying. I've been picking my autumn sown beans for a week now.

Aquedulce Claudia is the variety to try. You're down south right? So conditions are OK. If you put your location into your profile we won't keep asking you.

[ann-the-nan]

Broad beans

Welcome, friend.

I live just up the road from Brissle. I usually plant in the autumn for early, black-fly free results. Winter just gone round here, as you know, was wet and VERY cold occasionally. The deep frosts killed all of my beans which, by then, were well on their way. I didn't even get chance to cover them. I started again late Feb or early march and covered them all with enviromesh, which I took off recently. Result, very tall beans, blackfly-free and dripping with flowers. These are now germinating, and I have an array of pods. Now, either we are going to have to live on the eclusively, (no room in the freezer and no room for another freezer - not even in the garage - or rely on BB loving family and neighbours.

PM me for more info on where exactly I live if you want to.

[Flummery]

I've given up sowing autumn ones. They cockle over in the wind and grow all wonky and rubbish and I only gain a few weeks. I go for a February sowing. You don't need to wait till the frosts are gone. Broadies are the toughest of the family.

[evie b]

Many thanks for your reply. It looks like it is best to sow in spring. Perhaps I will try that.
Evie b

[Welsh Wizard]

I think I would choose a dwarf variety like "the Sutton" if it was my first time growing, as they are super-productive and less prone to falling over in the wind, so less trouble, less need for supports or wind breaks. Hope that helps!

[Two_Sheds]

All my broadies are dwarf, because my site is so windy.