can i plant my broadbeans straight into my veg patch now ?

[skell43]

Getting very excited now that the warm(ish) weather is here , am staring out the kitchen window at my new raised bed which is a bit sad and empty.
I have some 'Aquadulce Longpod' broadbeans in pots inside that are doing well , but my neighbour(keen veg gardener) said put some 5 inches or so down into the bed now. Any thoughts ? Have lots of beans and not sure if you can keep spares anyway if I don't use all until next year.
Thanks Grapeviners

[Aberdeenplotter]

You don't say where you are so difficult to give guidance. Up here it's still far too early to be thinking of planting anything outside except perhaps shallots already started off in the cold grenhouse. You can start off some more inside in cell trays or pots ready to plant out when the soil warms up a bit.

[skell43]

Sorry , I am in Cambridgeshire , it's been really mild during the day , and no frosts for a while. Have a few shallots started in pots inside , but they are very small so far.

[Rocketron]

Broad beans are very hardy and can be planted now. That said, I don't. This is because the slugs and snails get them all. I sow into pots and plant out when they're about 5" tall.

[zazen999]

I put about 15 in today. Not sure about the 5 inches down bit....

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Skell,

maybe worthwhile showing your location in your profile. I haven't done that but them my user name kinda gives my location away. I'll leave itto someone who lives closer to you to give their thoughts on planting in your area at this time.

[skell43]

Have put my location on my profile , thanks for the tip , will make advice more relevant!
I have also got some giant mange tout and some cucumber seeds , could these all be started in small pots inside now? Bought largish plants from a nursery last year and wanted to grow a lot more myself this year(trying to grow a bit more stuff to eat and do things as cheap as poss!)

[Aberdeenplotter]

I would personally wait with the mangetout. You going to grow your cumbers on outside or inside?

[skell43]

Thanks for the quick replies aberdeenplotter , going to grow the cucumbers outside eventually , had one plant only last year but got about 6 (odd shaped) really nice cucumbers from it and wanted to grow my own from seed this year.
What month should i start the mange tout ?

[zazen999]

In Cambs, mangetout will be fine to sow now and cukes will be sown about end March/beg April. I sowed mangetout today.

Have you got the seed packets which should specify when to sow and plant out?

[skell43]

Thanks zazen999 , it says on the packet sow mid Feb until late May for the giant mange touts , but not if you start indoors or they can go out then . So I should sow my cucumbers in the patch end March or can I start off a bit earlier indoors ? Also I saved some seeds from runner beans last year , but they are looking a little shrivelled now. Any point in planting? (Lots of questions sorry! Handy to have the experts online!)

[zazen999]

Cucumbers; start indoors then harden off and plant out. Feb is far too early for cukes unless you have a polytunnel.

How to grow outdoor ridge cucumbers with hints, tips and lots of advice - page 1

[Hazel at the Hill]

Thanks zazen999 , it says on the packet sow mid Feb until late May , but not if you start indoors or they can go out then . So I should sow my cucumbers in the patch end March or can I start off a bit earlier indoors ? Also I saved some seeds from runner beans last year , but they are looking a little shrivelled now. Any point in planting? (Lots of questions sorry! Handy to have the experts online!)

Broad beans are pretty hardy and I would either sow them now(ish) in pots and plant out towards the end of March, or direct sow in the ground mid March. Disadvantages of direct sowing is that you might lose some to mice - you have more control sowing in pots & planting out.

Cucumbers and runner beans (your saved seed will be fine, I would think, providing that they don't look obviously mouldy. Check viability with a germination test - put a few on some damp kitchen paper on a plate in a plastic bag in a warm place) will shrivel at the merest hint of frost, so you need to find the latest frost in your area (I'd google that' and sow the seeds in pots about 2 weeks before hand.

My tender seeds french beans/runners/squash family won't get sown till April, and I'd aim to plant them out mid May-ish.

[skell43]

Thanks everyone , am a lot more clued up now , will just have to give up my dining room to a lot more little pots of things and get them outdoors to get used to the weather in a few weeks. Will do a germination test on my beans too.
Also ,got some nice free seeds from BBC Dig-in last year ,anyone know where there are any freebies this year ?

[Two_Sheds]

I have a flower on my broad beans (Violetta, planted autumn in gh). Silly thing

The ones on the lotty are still only 5" tall (planted same time)