[Andy J]

Hi,

A couple of hopefully quick questions......am I right to be planting out my broad beans and peas this week? I am going to put the seeds stright into the soil is this ok or should I start them off in pots?

Also do I need to support these plants? Can I use bamboo like I would for the runner beans?

Many thanks

Andy

[moose]

Depends what ones you are growing. The seed packet will tell you the expected height. Is you site sheltered or windy. Mine is windy so I tend to support even bush types. Broad beans can be supported by putting a sturdy stake at each corner and then put string round the posts. Bush peas I use hazel sticks, my neighbour has  Hazel trees down one side of the plot, but tall peas have a sturdy bamboo frame.

[Mark-S]

Peas are much hardier than beans, but you will be ok sowing either now.

re the support - i would use netting for peas and bamboo + string for my beans.

[slowcompost]

Only my opinion but i think its early to be sowing peas straight into the ground, I would wait another 2 or 3 weeks.  Broad beans are fine, the early ones tend to avoid the black fly better.

[peapod]

Yes I agree, though I understand the temptation  
 
Wait a couple of weeks, later planted peas are well known for catching up to earlier sown peas (of the same variety) so you wont really gain anything....

PS Andy, it will help us if you put where you live in your profile - as sometimes it can vary the seed sowing times

[solway cropper]

Where are you Andy? It's too cold up north to be sowing in the ground at the moment but I have peas and broad beans growing away merrily in tubs in the unheated greenhouse. I was up in Arkengarthdale today and the soil still has ice crystals in it several inches below surface. Admittedly that was 1200 feet above sea level but we've had a long hard winter. As others have said, things have a habit of catching up so leave it a while longer.

[Andy J]

Thanks guys, I have updated my profile now I live in Bristol (down south).

[MoreWhisky]

Last yr i tried a combination of things with my Peas.

Paper pots, early sowing direct and a later sowing direct.

This yr im sowing all of them direct in 2 to 3 weeks. To early and they come to nothing and the direct later sowings caught up and over took the paper pots ones. so as much as i would like to make loads paper pots and get some going, cant see the point.

[mumofstig]

I planted my early peas yesterday, which is a week later than last year. They are under a fleece but this is to stop them getting eaten as much as to warm the soil

The early peas are usually wrinkle seeded varieties, the smooth ones go in a little later.
Broad beans are even hardier than peas, so they will be fine

[prakash_mib]

so is it a good time to sow onward outdoors now? or wait for couple of weeks. I was thinking to do it by end of first week in april.

[MoreWhisky]

I was going to wait couple weeks for my onwards go in but you are further south than me prakash , so maybe get em in )

[mumofstig]

As I said, I did mine and you are further south 

[prakash_mib]

right!
nipped out during lunch, re-done my FEs to two feet and dug a seed drill for peas. will put them in this evening with fleece on top

[andy135]

My first sowing of peas went in this morning, and covered with fleece. My broad beans are growing happily in paper tubes in the coldframe. They'll go in next week after I finish digging the bed.

[kermit]

Last year I did the toilet roll thing for all my beans and peas.  Worked well, but for the 2nd sowings I couldnt be bothered so just chitted for a night or two on damp kitchen roll in the airing cupboard and then threw them straight in the ground.  Admittedly the soil will have been warmer by then, but they ALL came up (no gaps) and grew incredibly quickly - almost caught up on the ones sown in toilet rolls 1.5 months before.

This year - m just doing some late chitting and they'll go straight in