broad beans - remove the fleece or not?

lucywil · « **on:** January 14, 2009, 11:58 »

planted some broad beans in october, did 2 lots and as a little experiment i put fleece over one and not the other. until now there was no sign of them but have been to the allotment this morning and the ones under the fleece are just poking there heads through.

they seem really pale though so i was wondering if the fleece is blocking too much light. should i remove it or just wait a while, bearing in mind that is was really frosty here last night.

i have taken a picture, those of you that have me as a friend on face book can see it there, those that dont should be able to follow this link

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1202691&l=7cc97&id=546747219

Alex 98 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2009, 13:38 »

I'd take the fleece off. They are hardy. Use a net for bird protection.

Alex 98

Clampit · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2009, 17:02 »

I put my broad beans in at the beggining of November and they are up a good few inches, I have never covered them with anything and they seem to be healthy enough. What variety did you plant?
I planted 'Aquadulce Claudia' which I have always had good results with autumn planting.
Unforunatley the weeds are doing well to. :oops: But it's been to wet to get on there (that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it)

Salmo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2009, 17:12 »

I do not think it matters whether the fleece stays on or not.

The pale leaves just showing through the surface seem to be fascinating for crows and pheasants. They pull them up, maybe hoping to find a bug or worm, and just leave them lying about. Would not mind if they ate them. Pidgeons often get the blame. Net protection as Clampit says, or just leave the fleece on.

Once the leaves have expanded the birds usually leave them alone.

Brixton Crack Squirrel · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2009, 11:23 »

I visited my plot before Christmas to find a perfect round hole in the middle of my broad bean bed, then another and another - and so on - and they were in neat rows. It didn't take me too long to realise that something had plucked out all of my broad beans. So definitely leave some sort of protection over them if you remove the flecce.

Aidy · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2009, 11:47 »

The cold probably wont affect them as they are pretty tough, however looking at the forcast in our area winds are a coming and beans really dont like wind, I would suggest keeping the fleece on to give them some protection from wind burn unless they are in a sheltered position now.

lucywil · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2009, 13:53 »

they are bunyards exhibition so they are hardy, i think i'll leave it on for now though.

thanks for your help

Salmo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2009, 17:33 »

Brixton Crack Squirrel - any anount of cover would not prevent your damage. It is almost definately mice taking the seeds and the only cure would be traps or raising the beans in pots and planting out. Even then they might pinch them from pots.

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