weak broad beans?

[longpig]

Hello! I planted some broad beans out in the autumn and although they're OK, they seem to have rather weak stems and the plants sprawl on the soil... other people's broad beans seem to stand up straight on strong stems. What am I doing wrong? It's not a question of support -- they aren't really big enough to need that yet... any advice would be great!

[Scarlet]

It could be they are leggy due to the warm winter. Did you plant them earlier than November?
Ideally they need just time to get their feet in the ground and a few leaves before it's too cold to grow anymore, then sit there waiting until Spring when it "should" warm up and they've got plenty of light to grow well.

[longpig]

Oh -- that's interesting. Yes, I planted them out in mid-October. Next year perhaps I'll try waiting a bit....

[Snadger]

You're not alone. I planted mine in the greenhouse border in November and they are quite spindly even though they are a dwarf variety,( The Sutton.) A few seem to have keeled over last night so I think its probably cold related as we've had a couple of below zero nights.
I'm not too bothered as it was only an experiment to use up greenhouse beds during the winter. I still think when we get longer daylight hours and a bit warmer they'll perk up!

[vixylix]

Mine are floppy too (and pretty bedraggled!) - as Snadger said though they were just filling empty space and I'm hopeful they will do something as the weather perks up. I don't think the mild winter has helped their 'normal' over winter routines!

[bario1]

You could try snipping them off at ground level, they should send up strong new shoots. Seems harsh, but it works!

[Snadger]

You could try snipping them off at ground level, they should send up strong new shoots. Seems harsh, but it works!

Maybe alternate plants! I wouldn't have the heart to snip em all off!

[bario1]

Yea i know what you mean, I've only done this to badly frosted plants, but the principle should be the same...

[Root66]

I planted broad beans in nov and dec. The nov ones are a good couple of inches taller and some have started to flop over, the dec ones look perfectly well. Definitely cold related as they were both going well until this week when overnight temps dropped below 0 here.

Think I am just going to leave them unless hard frost/snow occurs.

[Scarlet]

Oh -- that's interesting. Yes, I planted them out in mid-October. Next year perhaps I'll try waiting a bit....

I think it's just hit or miss with the weather, we had a really warm winter. Maybe hedge your bets plant some in Nov, some in Dec...then s@ds law we'll have a really cold winter and you wished you'd planted in Oct !

[elleme]

I sowed some broad beans in the greenhouse in November/december. One was a hardy variety, the Sutton and the other was crimson flowered which I thought wasn't supposed to be hardy. It's been mild here up until a couple of weeks ago and most germinated and a couple have started flowering. They're a little bit floppy but not too bad and they also have outgrown their pots. I'm not sure whether to risk planting them out on my plot soon or hanging on at least another month. Any suggestions?

[longpig]

You could try snipping them off at ground level, they should send up strong new shoots. Seems harsh, but it works!

I wondered about that -- as they seemed to be putting on new growth at the base. So this morning I went ahead and cut off some of the weaker ones. We'll see!