Masterpiece Broad Beans

[Scoot]

Is it best to chit these first in a bowl of water or just plant them straight into the ground or a pot?

If I have to chit them first, how long should they go into water for?

[Martin H]

Sometimes I chit them, sometimes not

When I do, I put them on damp kitchen roll in a small bowl inside a plastic bag and put it in the warmest place I can find (usually above my computer). It only takes 2 or 3 days before the white roots pop out, then I plant them straight away.

Because they virtually all germinate I don't think it makes a lot of difference.

They love the warmth; there's no point sowing direct into the ground until we get some really warm sunny days. That's a few weeks away yet I think.

[Scoot]

Thanks Martin. I'll not be putting them out anytime soon due to the cold snap we are having. It gets really cold here overnight. It was down to -1 last night.

[Kristen]

I chit mine on damp kitchen paper. its to then pot only the "good ones" and potting, rather than sowing direct, is to stop the mice nicking them!

[Alison]

I find broad beans germinate very easily, first year I had the plot I sowed 2 packets, thinking that as they were very old seeds that not many would come up. Ended up with almost 100% germination from seeds almost 10 years old simply by shoving the seeds just under the compost in root trainers. I sow quite a lot earlier as I want a crop pre other types of beans so it might be different now it's warmer (Jan / Feb when I sowed) but I germinate in my cool conservatory then grow on in the cold greenhouse before planting out.

[Martin H]

They love the warmth; there's no point sowing direct into the ground until we get some really warm sunny days. That's a few weeks away yet I think.

Please ignore this bit, I was thinking of Masterpiece FRENCH beans. You can sow broadies direct if you can keep the pests off.

[BertieFox]

Broad bean seeds are very liable to rot if too damp and too cold (or too warm) so I would NOT soak in water under any circumstances. I tend to chit mine in damp vermiculite and then leave them without adding any more water until they start sprouting, I then transplant them immediately into small pots of compost to grow on before planting out.

[planetologist]

I tried once putting half in water for a day and planting the other straight into pots indoors. I couldn't see a difference. I never sow beans direct because mice will eat most of them.

[Scoot]

I have some planted straight into modules and some on damp kitchen roll having spend a day soaking in water. We shall see what is best...