Broad Beans

Happy New Year to every one.
Have to tell you my broad beans sown in Oct did not rot...as some predicted ! and have made a real effort showing a good 2 inches through the frost.

 

hI rosietu
I had forgotten to put mine in earlier so i thought nothing ventured nothing gained and put a some seeds in pots in the cold frame in november and what do you know only 3 seeds seem to be unsuccessful...not bad hey

 

Oh very good, I had to throw some slug killer down tho wouldn't you think the frost would have kiied the little "Bs"

 

Yes I saved some seed from a bad crop, sowed them quiet a few weeks back and they are about a foot tall, need staking now.

Trevor

 

Mine are about 4 inches tall....good enough for a first attempt at November sown beans. We'll see...

 

Last year I sowed some in the ground in the polytunnel on 28th January - the first picking was 21st May.
This year I germinated a few on the kitchen window on 18th November and planted them in the tunnel on 1st December. Tips of the plants turned black as I'd not hardened them off (ought to have given them a week or more in the GH first) but they look like they'll be ok. It will be interesting to see if they crop any any earlier than last years beans.

 

Hmm - I've just started mine in pots in the greenhouse, no sign yet of germinating tho it's early days.
I read somewhere that poached egg plant nearby will keep bugs off. I'm hedging my bets and have garlic and poached egg plants!

 

Hi everyone.
I have always planted mine in November (Aquadulce variety) and found them completely hardy even if they are showing through during heavy frost.
However, what with one thing and another - the weather - any excuse will do - I did not plant any in November this time. So I have just planted two rows of Green Longpod. The advantage of planting in November is you get an early crop before the blackfly have ruined them.
I have not heard about the poached egg plant as a bug deterrent, but I do believe beans love the herb Savory so you can interplant that as well and have savory poached eggs with garlic.!

http://organic-tomatos.blogspot.com/

 

Well, you all put me to shame! I haven't sewn a bean yet.

 

Don`t worry John, they`ll catch up from a later sowing.

 

Yes Dave I suppose they will but like someone above said they'll probably be at their bst just when the aphids are about!

 

Last year my broad beans got 'chocolate spot'. I planted them in late march. Is this too late?

I always try to recruit an army of ladybirds to fight the blackfly war for me. Seems to do the trick.

 

I find that I get the browning of leaves and stems to an extent. I thought it was to do with the lack of rotation of crop. As my veg plot aint too big I find it difficult to plant them in a totally different spot.

 

Unlike most other crops its not a bad thing to plant (legumes) peas, beans etc in the same spot time after time,its considered beneficial. You know they are said to fix nitrogen? planting in the same spot allows residual nitrogen to build up in the soil,thus benefiting the plants. Tomatoes can be planted in the same spot frquently too.