Sowing broad beans for overwintering

[vixylix]

Hi all,

I'm planning on sowing a few broad bean plants in the raised bed, with the brocolli, for overwinter. The advice seems to be to sow at the end of October earliest.

Does anyone know why this is? I was wanting to sow them this weekend as I'm not sure I'll have the inclination in November! I also think that Nov is pretty cold this far north and surely they wont germinate?!

Will planting them earlier (i.e. preferably this weekend) do them harm? I cant see why it would but dont know if they have to be at a specific point of growth to survive over the winter?

p.s. I'm aware that they may fail entirely if winter is rubbish - just taking a gamble!

[sparrow100]

You don't want them to get too big before it gets cold. I sowed mine in early Oct last year for the same reasons as you and we had a mild one. The plants got too big and couldn't take the winds etc and fell over. I ended up having to stake each one, not a fun job. This year I'll hold off to late October/early Nov.

[Alison]

I sow about mid October round here if I bother although to be honest I find a better result is had from spring sown anyway.

[brownfingers]

I always set mine off in modules in the GH in late November. Plant out just before christmas. Always had good results.

[vixylix]

Thanks all