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Allotments

Growing broad beans

Posted by: Jane Moore, 11 April 2008, 12.19PM

Broad beans It's been a chilly week down here. Every morning we've had frost, not to mention snow, sleet and hail, followed by glorious sunshine. I'm not complaining, but this weather has come as a shock after the balmy temperatures of the past fortnight.

I can cope with this weather - a thermal vest and a good pair of hiking socks does the trick - but my poor little broad bean plants have just gone in the ground and look a bit horrified. Most of the bean seeds sowed directly outside last year failed to germinate. Take your guess as to what had them - rot, rodents or slugs - but I think it was probably a hungry mouse. So, this year I started them in pots in a sheltered corner at home, planting them out once they were a few inches tall. It's more work growing them this way but I only need a few plants as Paul isn't keen on broad beans - too many massive, chalky old ones when he was a lad.

If I have any more problems with growing broad beans I may discuss them with fellow allotmenteers. My neighbour Vic soaks his in paraffin to keep the mice away. This seems to do the job nicely as he's got a few lovely rows coming along, but I'm not sure if that's good practice in these days of health and safety - not to mention whether it contravenes organic sensibilities - so I'm sticking to my pots of plants.

Comments

  • mizzzy

    13 April 2008, 11.36AM

    I'm just starting out growing my own veg so any advice is valuable to me. I have started my beans in pots 2 so i know I'm doing it right now.

  • alithefrog

    13 April 2008, 11.46AM

    I am sure that I read somewhere that putting down holly leaves will deter mice from eating newly planted peas or beans.

  • keramike

    14 April 2008, 07.54PM

    Why not invest in the cheaper end of the cloche market -a couple of low profile 1x mtre polytunnels or similar won't cost the earth - your beans will race away from a late autumn start - and you can switch the cloches to protect and start off spring sowings of other plants once the beans are up and running around March.

  • grannyanne

    15 April 2008, 10.17PM

    I have found Aquadulce do well from a direct sowing in November.

  • Hannah

    16 April 2008, 05.11PM

    After watching program on Friday i would like to get my hands on free compost for the children's day nursery that i work in to fill our raised beds that the children will grow veg in . I live in Torquay does any one know some contact names and numbers? I'm finding this difficult as we are not a charitable organisation. Please Help!

  • marcia

    16 April 2008, 10.57PM

    Have some banana plant seeds that i have soaked for 24 hours i then planted them in pots 3 weeks ago but the seeds are still hard what am i doing wrong.

  • Petes allotment

    17 April 2008, 07.12PM

    Could you please tell me what ingredients make up a good seed compost, like Monty's. Thanks

  • catking

    18 April 2008, 09.39PM

    Beans started in pots three weeks ago. Nearly ready for planting outside.

  • 01 January 2007, 12.00AM

  • Sarah @ St. George's School Gardening Club

    19 April 2008, 10.09PM

    Hiya, Our broad beans went into the ground last November and are just now coming into flower. My students are very pleased that they have something growing in their new vegetable bed. The frost & snow beat them down a bit, but we've tied them to their wig-wam now, so they are fine. Hope yours are going to be OK.

  • Don Penn Allotments Wolverhampton

    21 April 2008, 03.58PM

    Broad Beans usually do well if planted in early winter or early spring, say March, weather permitting. Planting them directly in the ground may mean a few are lost to mice, crows etc, but the remainder will easily survive all but the harshest weather. It is part of gardening to lose some plants, just ensure that you have enough left over to plant when the weather gets warmer.

  • Shirley

    25 April 2008, 09.45PM

    We have found that over wintered Aquadulce beans do not suffer so much from blackfly, we have had an allotment for three years,the first year we grew spring sown beans but had lots of blackfly but sowing them in november they seam to miss the blackfly and we seam to have a bigger crop. They also are quite able to take whatever weather we have.

  • catking

    28 April 2008, 10.43PM

    Planted out broad beans tonight,these have been growing in pots for a month now ,and have reached about 20cms in hight. Also planted out onions grown from seed and sown broad beans direct in ground.

  • Vicki

    09 May 2008, 06.16PM

    I've just got back to the UK and am trying to sort out my veggie garden. I'd like to put in some broad beans - is it too late to do that? If not, when are they likely to crop? Thanks!

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