[rowlandwells]

we always spring sow our brad beans in pots in the greenhouse then when there ready to transplant we plant in rows down the allotment as you do

but I thought I mite try sowing broad beans in the autumn to overwinter in a framed bed so for those of you who autumn sow is there any advantage in autumn sowings  as there open to the elements the weather mice and so on is it worth it


I know my farmer friends sow there field beans to overwinter and they seem to crop well but then again there field bean varieties so should I or shouldn't I give them a go 

[Nobbie]

They certainly give an earlier crop in my experience and that is worth a lot as there is not much else around at that time of year. You need to be careful not to give too much shelter or they will grow soft and may be more susceptible to hard frosts. I believe Aquadulce Claudia is one of the hardiest for overwintering. Seems like a no brained to me as you can always re-sow in spring if they fail.

[rowlandwells]

sounds like it mite be worth giving autumn sown broad beans a try Nobbie we don't grow Aquadulce I know that's a standard variety but we favour a green variety imperial green longpod but then a beans a bean I suppose

anyway I get your advise regarding to much shelter as I was thinking of planting them in a fame around six inches tall would it be an advantage to net the frame?

[oldgrunge]

I gave up autumn sowing a few years ago. Personally, I found it didn't make much difference, as the spring sown ones always seemed to catch up. Perhaps it depends where you are, your soil, the variety.
As Nobbie says, you've not much to lose by giving it a try.

[Nobbie]

I can't direct sow on one of my allotments as the mice would eat them, but is OK on the other one. Not sure what you would need to net against as it seems every site has it's own problems. Certainly worth a punt for an early crop🙂

[bayleaf]

I have found the losses are such that in Lancashire at least it's a waste of time. Even in raised beds last year I lost most of the crop (the Sutton). I'm very much a spring sower now as they catch up anyway.

[sunshineband]

I also have found that sowing in pots in February to plant out when big enough gives a crop pretty much as the same time as Autumn sown seed really, and I don't need to worry about them over the hard weather

[Mintyboy]

I have always sown in pots to plant out early March, this year I did not have enough to finish a row so I finished the row by pushing in some seeds of the same variety direct into the ground.
The difference between the two was remarkable, the direct sown seeds grew taller, more lush, the pods were larger and more uniform. They even had less black fly and chocolate spot, and were only about 2 weeks behind the others.
I am going to keep the seed from the direct sown beans to sow next year, not bothering with pots, but sow direct in March.