[chrisnchris]

Hi all,
I was very late with getting myself together for my broad bean planting, Aquadulce. I decided to plant in pots indoors to speed things up & they have now germinated.
I thought about putting them outside during the day for a week or so & bringing them in at night. I guess they will have reached 4"-6" in that time.
Alternatively they could go into an unheated greenhouse, that is certainly the easiest option.
I would then plant them into the ground.
I suppose there is a good chance that they won't survive anyway but I think Aquadulce are fairly tough.

What would you do ?

Thanks

Chris

[compostqueen]

Broad beans are cold hardy. They could be planted outside if they're big enough.  They will be fine in the cold greenhouse or outside til you're ready to plant them outside. Don't let them get pot bound though!  Get them planted outside as soon as they're good strong plants, which won't be long 

[chrisnchris]

Thanks, I'll let them get to 6" or so & then plant them out.
I hope they do better than last year's poor showing

[compostqueen]

Broad beans should be trouble free.  They do like manured soil and a feed of manure pellets when the pods begin to swell

Good luck with them. They are a delicious variety 

[oldman65]

bit late i sowed mine november 9th outside they are now 25mm high..only one bad crop in 15 years very hardy winter bean

[Salmo]

If you let them get to 6 inches you have been too soft with them and they may be damaged by frost/wind.

As soon as they are above the ground put them outside or plant them out. They should sit all Winter with just the first leaves and grow away at the first signs of Spring.

[Kajazy]

Ha ha....just been up to the allotment. I'd sown all my broad beans in mid November. Just checked them. There are a series of neat little holes, exactly where I'd sown them, with the sprouted bean shoot lying severed next to them. Blimmin' mice....

[Nobbie]

I'd plant them out now before they grow soft. Mine were sown at the start of Nov and only just above the ground now.

[chrisnchris]

Thanks for all the info, In didn't have time to plant over the weekend.

Bearing in mind that some are now about 3" tall, how deep should I plant them, should I bury the entire stem & just leave the first leaf above ground, or will this rot the stem ?

Thanks

Chris

[chrisnchris]

Sorry for the bump, but I really would like to know how deep to plant them.

Can anyone help please.

Thanks

Chris

[Kajazy]

I've always just planted them at the same depth. If you're worried about the wind blowing them over, you can give them some support.

[Robster]

I'm with Salmo and Oldman65.  I think the idea is sow them outside in November and they germinate and just poke their heads out before the cold weather stops them growing, and they get away very quickly in the New Year.  I went too early one year and they were a foot tall before Christmas.  They got battered by the snow and 90% mortality.  Today most of mine are up and about half an inch to an inch high.  I'm sure ill lose a few but even in a hard winter I reckon they'll be ok like this.