Broad beans nowhere to be seen

[Dottie]

After visting my plot yesterday, I've come to realise all my autumn sown broad beans have not made it. About a month ago there were still going strong, well at least 6" high, so it seems odd that they have all disappeared now. I'll make a point of searching next time I'm down there, but things are either there or there not, so not holding out much hope.

Last year I lost lots, but I'm thinking Ive lost the lot this year. Anyone else lost much/the lot?

[Piggle]

i gave on overwintering after last year as they all went black and mushy ... having said that this years are rather slow to appear as well.

[richardbees]

Dottie

They've either rotted away or been eaten - there's nothing to search for!

Buy another packet and empty the seed beans onto a damp cloth, fold over and put in a plastic bag for a few days in a warm place. Keep checking and once they've grown a little root plant into 4" pots....keep frost free and by April they'll be ready to plant out.

They're my favourite veg but try as i may to stagger a crop, they're always ready at the same time.

richard

[Two_Sheds]

I must have sown mine at exactly the right time - they've survived the long hard frosts and are now 5" high, stocky and strong looking

I've not known anything to attack them, although sparrows have destroyed my overwintered peas this week

[binley100]

After last year when they got eaten by the meeces I now start mine off at home then plant them out once they've got going good and proper.........

[solway cropper]

I have a dozen growing away nicely in 4 inch pots in the greenhouse and I'll put them out when the ground gets a bit warmer. Also have 2 large tubs with them in but they are only just poking their heads up.

Not doing overwintered ones ever again. Waste of time up here.

[perkin]

My overwintering ones got pushed to the surface (freeze/thaw action) and then rotted under a layer of snow. Resowed in early Feb and after a furtle today can report that they've germinated and are about to show themselves. Sowing in autumn/early winter has now been pointless for two of the last three years for me.

[Dead Dogs]

Sowed mine in 5" root trainer at the end of Jan. Had them on the dinning room window sill for 2 weeks, until they started to show, then moved to cold greenhouse. Been outside now for about 2 weeks and looking ok, 2" - 2.5".

First time growing broad beans as I'm not a fan, but OH says she likes them.

[Jono]

I lost my overwintered ones. Have had to sow some more under cover. Mind you, I'm not getting 100% germination on those.

My broad beans were rubbish last year, so hoping for a good crop this time around.

[Dottie]

I went on a special trip to the lottie to check out the broad bean beds, as I said they were 5" high about a month ago, so they had survived the snow. I managed to find 2 little stumps of what used to be broad beans, looks like something has already eaten them. If I decide to sow them again this autumn, then I'll have to net them up. Plot next to mine has them netted and they still have them, so it d'birds.