Broad beans now?

[Currysniffa]

I was going to sow mine in toilet roll tubes at the end of the month (Bunyards Exhibition) but after reading in this thread I may bring that a little forward

[Poddington Pea]

I put mine in in November, dug them all up after seeing my friend's foot high beauties, put them in loo rolls on the window sill then hardened them off over a few days. We've planted them under home made bottle cloches and they're looking good after a week of high winds and heavy rain. So glad I put them under cloches!

[Chopper]

I sowed some early November, in a raised bed in my poytunnel. They looked quite healthy until the frost and then the snow came down. It was Minus 10 in the tunnel at one point.

I lost a few of the bigger stems. They flopped over and went black, but they have new growth on them and appear to be doing well. I am going to wait a few more days and see how they are before I write them off.

I will be starting some more off in the next few days in my greenhouse. Its all new to me, so a lot of experimenting and taking notes.

Chopper.

[Jono]

It doesn't mean they're dead, the roots might still be OK, and give you greenery when it warms up a bit.

Were they very tall going into winter? I can be very smug because (by chance not design) mine were only 4" tall when the snow came

Thanks Two Sheds. They had got to about a foot and half tall, and even flowered. Haven't dug them up, I'll keep an eye on them.

[Two_Sheds]

They had got to about a foot and half tall, and even flowered.

Ah yeah, that's not good. They need to be really short going into winter, then they'll put on the growth in the spring, flowers in May when the bumblies are about

[Currysniffa]

When you sow in toilet roll tubes do you use a whole tube or would half a one be just a good, I'm just thinking about how many tubes I have..

[Scarlet]

I use the whole tube - I think half a tube might be a little small. You could make some newspaper pots!

[Currysniffa]

I use the whole tube - I think half a tube might be a little small.

Thanks, This will be my first year growing broad beans, I'd not had them till I tried some off someone's lottie last year, we were given enough for a meal and really enjoyed them.

[Scarlet]

Thanks, This will be my first year growing broad beans, I'd not had them till I tried some off someone's lottie last year, we were given enough for a meal and really enjoyed them.

Last year was the first year for me! I always thought I hated them but I picked them young and used the whole pod in stir fries -absolutely gorgeous!

[Jono]

I love them par-boiled and crushed up with goats cheese and mint. Lovely on toast or in a sandwich.

Nursery was out of Aquadulche, so bought some Bunyards Exhibition. Going to plant some tomorrow and see how they get on, indoors initially.

[Currysniffa]

I use the whole tube - I think half a tube might be a little small. You could make some newspaper pots!

Just found a bag of around 30 loo rolls in the shed it I thought I composted \o/ I'm going to sow half of them shortly.

Edit: mine have been sown, fingers crossed!

[Scarlet]

Edit: mine have been sown, fingers crossed!

I''ve sown mine today too in some paper pots

[Currysniffa]

Could someone tell me the average germination time for Broad Beans please, I had a link once for all veg germination times but I had to change my lappy last year so lost it

[LolaLou]

Hello - I think its around 7-14 days for germination. I put mine in over a week ago and no sign of anything yet. I think with broadies that it can take up to a month if the soil temp doesn't reach about 2 degrees (or something along those lines). In pots, I'd expect to see something within 3 weeks (and then I'd have a poke around and make sure they are not just rotting.....or being stolen by mice!).

[binley100]

After last years nightmare, I've sown 8 in loo rolls and they are in t'kitchen. As soon as they germinate they will be moved into the conservatory and another 8 (size of the tray they're in ) will be sown and so on until I have my required amount.......