when to plant out broad beans?

[skeggijon]

My next door neighbour at the lottie sowed broad beans direct in November with no protection - and I have to say they look absolutely fantastic. I'll try and remember to take a pic next time I go down.

[chilli_grower]

hmmm, they are obviously very cold tolerant, and tolerant to loads of rain....

[Greenleaves]

Just sown mine in root trainers today, if I plant direct the mice seem to think they are for them!

[Kristen]

hmmm, they are obviously very cold tolerant, and tolerant to loads of rain....

I'd expect a variety like Aquadulce to be happy with the cold ... the wet (ie.. wet & cold) soil on my heavy clay is a different matter; I've never gardened on a light soil, but I suspect that would be fine for over wintering Broad Beans.

I have grown Aquadulce outside (overwinter) successfully, in years that have not been too wet (I've since given up trying, too much of a lottery for me!) and I'm not sure they were that far ahead of the ones I sowed in January, under glass, which I then got planted out by end of February.

[Samurailord]

I sowed a dozen Crimson Flowering and another dozen Bunyard's Exhibition in root trainers last night.

They are on the box room windowsill to germinate, and once they get at least 4 inches tall they will be hardened off in the cold frame and then planted.

I didnt get too many beans last year as they went in far too late and the slugs got more than me

Andy

[Muppet194]

Timing wise, what are my chances of having the broad beans in, harvested and out before the leeks need the bed? I only sowed them into modules yesterday.

[Zenithtb]

Mine were in about November (yes it's Spain, but we still have freezing weather here during winter!). All came through the frosts.

One comment only - if they put on too much growth, and then some high winds come, they're in danger of snapping. We had 60MPH winds here and it looked like a massacre when they were 60cm tall. With some time, most just curled at the ends, and started growing upwards again though

It's now March and they're nearly a metre tall. Worth putting them in early if you can afford the space...