[fletcherbaker]

Hi all i started some broad beans (sutton) about 10 days ago in pots on windosill they have now germinated and are sprouting up how long do i leave it before i plant them outside in there final resting place :happy:

[Apostrophes]

I already screwed this up this year. My broad beans got several inches tall so I planted them out but it was too soon and I didn't acclimatise them to the cold Sub zero temperatures a couple of weekends ago killed them.

I have more growing. I will wait till they are at least five inches tall, get them used to the outside, then plant them out.

But remember I already have broad bean blood on my hands so probably you ought to get a second opinion!

Richard

[fletcherbaker]

To be honest i was thinking of keeping them in for another week or two but just wanted a second opinion hopefully the frost has gone for a while so maybe the ground will be warming by then :happy:

[aelf]

I would let them get a good 6 inches tall (a few weeks) before planting them out, but harden them off in a cold frame first. personally, I just sow them straight out, they are quite hardy plants and cope well with the cold (as long as the meeces don't get them!  ) And if they don't make it, there is plenty of time to put more in the ground  

[Salmo]

The ground is now warm and no frost is forecast this week so I would put them in the ground now.

I usually put them in modules and plant them as soon as they have chitted with an inch long root but you can plant them out at any stage you choose. Put them in deep enough so that the soil will support the stem later. In my experience if you let them get too big they suffer when transplanted.

[fletcherbaker]

Ive just noticed a root is coming out of the bottom of the pot is this a problem!!

[Kristen]

Ive just noticed a root is coming out of the bottom of the pot is this a problem!!

Indicates they are getting to the point of needing to be moved on ...

You could pot them on into a larger pot - not really much point for something that could be going out now, but: if your plot is not ready that would be a reasonable solution.

Worth knocking one out of the pot carefully so you can see how much root there is around the outside of the rootball, and then put it back into the pot. If there are roots all round the outside of the rootball you need to hurry up ... if only a few then you have time in hand as yet.

[fletcherbaker]

would i be able  to put two plants into a flower bucket or just the one

[Kristen]

I don't know the answer, but I work on the basis that if plants have space around them they don't mind being close together - so provided the buckets are not touching I reckon you could get a couple of plants in each bucket and then they can grow away from each other, a bit.

[Tattyanne456]

You could start hardening them off by putting them outside during the day and leaving them longer and longer before you bring them in, aiming for eventually leaving them outside overnight with little protection. alternatively cut the bottoms off  2litre bottles and plant straight outside using the bottles as mini propagators.