Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Grubbypaws on November 03, 2021, 10:56

Title: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 03, 2021, 10:56
I have some broad beans left over and was thinking of making an Autumn sewing but I have left it quite late and I live in the Peak District. I was thinking of sowing them in pots but where should I put them to germinate?

1. unheated greenhouse which got down to 4C last night
2. Window sill
3. Propagator (if so what temperature)

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to Broad Beans and only realised that you could plant them in Autumn when I read Johns allotment garden newsletter.


Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: snowdrops on November 03, 2021, 10:59
I’m not sure if the Sutton is for overwintering but Aqua Claudia is.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 03, 2021, 11:53
I’m not sure if the Sutton is for overwintering but Aqua Claudia is.
Broad Bean The Sutton is suitable for autumn and spring sowings and gives good yields of approximately 6-8 white beans per pod. Sow October - November or February - March. From an Autumn sowing you should be harvesting June onwards.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: snowdrops on November 03, 2021, 13:01
In that case Grubbypaws  :)
I haven’t sown any at all yet, I haven’t done overwintering ones for a few years but an going to do some this year directly into the soil in the poly tunnel & see how that goes as it’s my first year with it & I’ll do some outside & compare, I might even do a few in modules in the greenhouse or outside at home to stagger the harvesting
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 10, 2021, 10:33
Advice needed. My broad beans have now germinated on the windowsill but what do I do with them now? I have not done an autumn sowing before. Do I just plant them out and let them cope with winter or do I need to protect them from the elements?
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 10, 2021, 15:25
I have found my answer here on youtube  :)

gzJcVbEfnFc
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Yorkie on November 10, 2021, 20:21
I have found my answer here on youtube  :)

gzJcVbEfnFc

Perhaps you might want to share the answer with us here in text?  :)
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 11, 2021, 10:36
I have found my answer here on youtube  :)

gzJcVbEfnFc

Perhaps you might want to share the answer with us here in text?  :)

Sow them in root trainers and put them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. They will germinate but stay as little seedlings over winter. In February or March when you would be thinking of sowing your spring seeds they are on their way already giving them a huge head start. Because they are about a month ahead you also avoid the common diseases; far fewer black fly and you avoid chocolate spot altogether.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Longshanks on November 12, 2021, 17:58
I have sown aqua dulce (again) about a month ago directly into the soil. They've sprouted nicely. I prefer autumn sowings as the plants produce the beans before the blackfly can get them, which they do with spring sown ones.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on November 28, 2021, 11:24
Hero broad bean. It was minus 4C here last night and look at what I found this morning!
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: bayleaf on December 15, 2021, 10:36
 I've tried this for the last three years with no success. Tend to lose the plants in February in cold winds. My plot is quite exposed and the plants turned black. Provided you give them some protection you should be okay. I'm trying some in my polytunnel this winter. They'll probably bolt now in the spring!! :D
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: bobbyt on December 18, 2021, 15:58
Planted my Suttons direct in ground early October. Earthed them up with a ridge and covered them with enviromesh to deter the mice etc that dig up the beans, and doing fine now, will uncover shortly as they are about 6 inches high now. I used to grow in pots in cold greenhouse, and plant out in November (uncovered), but found the stalks quite 'leggy' and prone to snapping off, so have planted direct on recommendation from other plot holders on my allotment. Seems to be working they look a lot stronger now.

Always do Autumn sown beans - usually Aquadulce, have planted two closely sown rows of each this time, to aid support, and to see the difference between the two varieties. I believe the Sutton is a smaller plant, so may be less prone to winds, which has happened to me in the past.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on December 19, 2021, 13:34
I have found my answer here on youtube  :)

gzJcVbEfnFc

Perhaps you might want to share the answer with us here in text?  :)

Sow them in root trainers and put them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. They will germinate but stay as little seedlings over winter. In February or March when you would be thinking of sowing your spring seeds they are on their way already giving them a huge head start. Because they are about a month ahead you also avoid the common diseases; far fewer black fly and you avoid chocolate spot altogether.

Except they havent stayed as little seedlings and the roots are way out the bottom of the root trainers. Help! What do I do now? I live in the Peak District so winters can be severe.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Yorkie on December 21, 2021, 19:50
How deep are the roottrainers? The full height ones or half height?
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on December 22, 2021, 11:39
How deep are the roottrainers? The full height ones or half height?

They are 12cm in depth. Not sure whether that is full height or not. I bought them from Harrod Horticulture who describe them as 'Deep Rootrainers, ideal for beans, sweet peas and strawberries and other deep rooting plants.'
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Yorkie on December 22, 2021, 17:24
I think they'd be OK, to be honest. Keep them a little watered (not too much). Roottrainers work by air pruning the roots at the bottom.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Grubbypaws on December 23, 2021, 12:47
I think they'd be OK, to be honest. Keep them a little watered (not too much). Roottrainers work by air pruning the roots at the bottom.

When do you think that I should plant them out? I haven't sown in Autumn before so this is a bit of a learning curve.
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: Yorkie on December 30, 2021, 21:29
Probably about March? (Depending on how wet or cold it's been)
Title: Re: Broad bean The Sutton; autumn sowing.
Post by: bayleaf on January 07, 2022, 13:36
These Aquadulce are looking okay at the moment😀