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Broad beans

srdsrd Posts: 34
in Fruit & veg
Hi everyone
I’m a First time grower. Broad beans have Already sprouted in house- now what? Do they need cane support like runners? Thanks
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You need to get them outside or they will grow too fast and lanky. They don't need canes. A cold frame would be ideal. If not, get them in the soil and cloche them.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That depends on the variety you have sown as some get to about 5'/150cms tall and will need support.

    They are hardy and can be sown direct in most of the UK so you need to start hardening them off by putting them outside during daylight hours for a week or so but sheltering them at night.  Then you can plant them out.

    Have a read of this for more info on growing broad beans - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/broad-beans
    and this
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-broad-beans/#:~:text=Sow broad beans in spring,for the most tender beans.



    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • srdsrd Posts: 34
    Great thanks 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Having had our autumn plants either eaten by mice for the remaining seed cases or birds taking the tops we had to protect what was remaining. We have 4 plants left.
    So the next sowing has started indoors and will only be planted out when the plants are more robust and still give them some protection.
    Haven't had to do this in previous years
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I gave up sowing any peas or beans, including sweetpeas, outside as within 24 hours they are all devoured by small brown furries. I sow indoors and plant out when the seedlings are growing strongly. 
    I was fed up with finding rows of small holes where I had put the pea and bean seed.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    There's odd.  I have up on peas here because of the droughts we've been getting in April and May.  I've sown broad beans direct for the last 3 years and nearly every single one has germinated and grown.

    Our veg plot is a former donkey paddock and is in the countryside so lots of little rodents running around, including under the weed suppressing fabric OH has seen fit to lay between the raised beds.      Our huntress cat has great fun but little success. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We sow ours direct in late October/early November ... almost 100% germination.  We're on a suburban plot with quite a lot of wildlife around ... certainly some field mice around but they don't seem to like beans. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    edited February 2021
    just curious - has anyone had success keeping mice away by dunking the beans in meths before planting?
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    Put ours in on the 5th November, Guy Fawlkes Day, 3/4 inches tall in the ground looking good, with no protection, will be supported when they grow to a foot or so.
  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267
    I've read somewhere dunking them in oil works and keeps rodents away, it must be the smell which puts them off. 

    I had loads of peas and beans eaten last year by rodents and put 'big cheese ' down.  
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