[Yana]

I thought I had managed to save my broad beans over the frost / snow but alas, no. I looked today and they are black! I've dug the rest of the area around them ready to put fresh ones in as I am sure the ones in are past their sell by date......
My query is this....
I've got some already started in trays on a windowsill in an unheated room but it gets warmth from the hallway in the house and want to start some more in case I loose these too.  The windowsill is now full, will the seeds germinate if they are in a sunny window but the room does not have any heating at all? The temp is around 8-10 degrees? I could start them off in the greenhouse but it is unheated so that is probably too cold yet. I could put them in a warm room and then as soon as they appear, move them to somewhere cooler?
Which of the three is the best solution please?

 :blink:

[DD.]

Broad beans do not require a lot of warmth, if they get too much, then you'll end up with weak plants.

I'd go for germinating them in the unheated room and then whip them into the unheated greenhouse ASAP. They'll get far better light in there and will be fine, unless we get a prolonged cold snap, in which case be prepared to bring them in again.

[Yana]

Thanks DD.
Cant work out why my BB's have gone black yet doesn't look like anyone else's has. Never mind, there is still time to do some more isn't there??

[DD.]

I'd get a move on.

There's only about 3 months sowing time left. 

[Yana]

Oh. I was told that if I didn't get them growing by end of Feb /early March, they would end up covered in black flies and that would reduce the number of pods to almost nothing. 

[sunshineband]

Oh. I was told that if I didn't get them growing by end of Feb /early March, they would end up covered in black flies and that would reduce the number of pods to almost nothing. 

Mine have never heard of that and manage just fine with later sowings, as the contents of our freezer show 

[surbie100]

Oh. I was told that if I didn't get them growing by end of Feb /early March, they would end up covered in black flies and that would reduce the number of pods to almost nothing. 

Mine have never heard of that and manage just fine with later sowings, as the contents of our freezer show 

I think your share of black fly found my beans Sunny! They were covered, then got chocolate spot. Am hoping that this year's efforts are not quite so doomed. 

[Yana]

So the sooner they are sown / planted, the better then.......
I'm on it already........ And will stagger showings by two weeks or so to get a continuous crop?

[DD.]

John's advice is to sow from late February to early May:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/grow-your-own/vegetables/broad-beans

[Aidy]

Of course there is a little secret to later sowings......

Once you get the flowers going snap of the tender tops of the plants.

I have just set two lots off now, first lot are in the greenhouse and the second at home waiting for the little ones to show their heads, then they will be chucked out in the greenhouse.

[Yana]

Oh no!
Moved the broad beans to the greenhouse and now a cold snap is forecast for the end of the week. I hope they survive.
  

[DD.]

Frostwise, it's takes a good spell of sub-zero temperatures to kill off broad beans, so they'll be fine in the greenhouse.

[sunshineband]

Cover them with a couple of layers of newspaper and some fleece and that should help.

I am waiting to sow my earliest at the end of this month, as last year I had some from early January. The extra work involved in keeping them fit and well really wasnlt worth the earler beans. I still have plenty to use from the freezer anyway.

[DD.]

I've just looked at the weather forecast for your area. The lowest temp I can see is -1C. They'll laugh in the face of that!

[Yana]

thanks DD. I saw the -1 and panicked. I'm such a worrier.