Broad Beans

When should broad beans be sown in seed trays ?

My Marshalls Aquadulce Claudia's packet says anytime between Oct - Dec??? :shock:  I think I'll wack 'em straight in mid October'ish - weather permitting  

Just put them straight in the ground mid to end of Oct.
My plot is in a windy area so I tend to fence in for support but not really needed.
Enjoy your beans in April,

Have to admit I don't sow anything directly in my plot soil as things rarely seem to germinate  :roll:

I wouldn't recommend seed trays, but nothing like those deep modules, peat pots or individual plant pots and avoid root disturbance at all costs when planting out.  The advantage of doing it this way is that there are no "gaps" in the plot, and if for whatever reason you cannot get down to the plot to sow them on time, they can be done at home.  Whatever you do, don't put them in a greenhouse or windowsill to germinate & grow as they need to acclimatise & toughen up quickly for the winter weather  

Quote from: "paintedlady"

Have to admit I don't sow anything directly in my plot soil as things rarely seem to germinate  :roll:

Do you have a heavy clay or silt soil ? if so what can happen is that you sow your seeds and you water them in possibly a little rain , and the clay forms a crust over the seeds so the seeds germinate and can't break through  

Try covering the seeds with a multi purpose compost instead of scraping the soil back over, it works well for me this way.  

Hardly gonna need watering them in autumn/winter or any time as it goes nowadays.

Broadbeans do germinate in any jolly unworked clay , too.

I buy most of my seeds from there, but then I work for them  
I've only ever had 1 packet fail on me so yes they are usually ok, they are packaged for them by a well known seed company.  

Last year I planted stright into the garden and the mice dug them up so I had to start them in pots they take alright if you dont let them grow too big before planting out.

Interesting that one, we are full of mice and rats, no loss in broad beans though.

Might have been something else, I do have mice and they dfinitley had my peas