Leggy Broad Beans

[Marb67]

I have some Autumn sown broad beans in the greenhouse (the same I sowed last year with successful crops) The only trouble this time is they are very tall, thin and leggy. I think they are even trying to make flower pods.

Probably the horrible mild weather so any advice on what is best to do would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[veggiechicken]

Any photos? They always help us

[WPG]

If it's any consolation, mine have done the same thing. Until now I've never had problems with overwintered BB, but this year they've already grown to around 2 foot and are so weak and spindly. Like you say, I think the mild winter is to blame.

Not sure if this is the right advice Marb, but personally I'm cutting my losses and putting them into the compost bin. Will start from fresh seed in spring.

[Marb67]

Well I can't afford to do that because if I sow them again they will crop later in the summer and the usual flea beetle will ruin (as it does most of my veg) This is why I sow Autumn variety so I beat the pests before they start.

[veggiechicken]

You could try cutting them down and they should send up new shoots - or take the tops off to make them bushier. No guarantees but mine do this if they're knocked back by the weather.

[Marb67]

You could try cutting them down and they should send up new shoots - or take the tops off to make them bushier. No guarantees but mine do this if they're knocked back by the weather.

I will do that with half and see how they fare. Thankyou.

[lottie dolly]

i have read on here that,when a frost knocks them back,they will shoot again,same as potatoes,seeing how you thought about the compost bin,you have nothing to loose and everything to gain by cutting them all down,if it were me,i would also give them a little protection,as in either clotch,or fleece,but make a frame to keep the fleece off the ground,as yet,none of us know what the weather has in store,we could end up with frost and snow around march time,if so then try and make a nice warmer shelter around them,like a small poly/greenhouse,then remove when the weather improves or you see the pollinators about,ti's a matter off adapting what you got,WITH what you got,1 thing for sure,you will not be on your own

[Alison]

Well I can't afford to do that because if I sow them again they will crop later in the summer and the usual flea beetle will ruin (as it does most of my veg) This is why I sow Autumn variety so I beat the pests before they start.

If you don't do something then you'll not get a crop anyway as they've just been too warm, would have been better outside this year. I always sow mine in Feb and am eating them in late May / June.

[Bigmallly]

I think it's a combination of the mild winter which has aided growth but low light levels means they have gone leggy...........leave half of them to see how they go & cut half of them down to re-shoot.

[Marb67]

The ends of the leaves are still going black though.

As they have never been waterd I took them outside in the mild weather and gave them a hose soak, let them stand and sprayed them everything in greenhouse with seaweed solution in water with mister to kill any fungus, whitefly etc that was on them. Seaweed is always good for this I have heard many times.

[Alison]

Seaweed is always good for this I have heard many times.

I've only ever used seaweed as a feed, didn't know it had other uses. Tend to use weak soap solution spray for white fly to but thankfully something I don't suffer with much, even in the height of summer.

[PyreneesPlot]

I too would cut them back quite hard simply because my autumn sown (in the ground) usually get chopped back at some point by the winter and come back with vigour.

[Marb67]

Aphids seem to be on a lot of my tender plants in the greenhouse and garden. It's so depressing getting a mild winter because they will be twice as bad next year if it stays mild till spring. I love winter when it is proper. Hate all this awful change messing everything, including nature up. Even bees at Chatsworth have started to venture out they were telling me.

[vixylix]

Mine arent too leggy and haven't grown too much - they are very bushy though and the ends of the leaves are starting to go black - what causes this?

[veggiechicken]

Maybe wind or frost? Just guessing!