[lotti lou]

Hi All,

I didn't manage to get my broad beans in the ground in November. So I sowed them last month in pots in the greenhouse (hoping to catch up). They have been planted for 4 weeks,so far nothing has happened. Should they be doing something by now or am I being too impatient?

Grateful for any advice

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi All,

I didn't manage to get my broad beans in the ground in November. So I sowed them last month in pots in the greenhouse (hoping to catch up). They have been planted for 4 weeks,so far nothing has happened. Should they be doing something by now or am I being too impatient?

Grateful for any advice

Sowed mine mid January amine or 4-6" plants. Sowed a second lot today and they are in the greenhouse. What temp is it in your greenhouse and how deep did you plant?

[muckshifter]

I guess it would depend on the temperature in your greenhouse as broad beans need 46  degrees F to germinate,I sowed mine in pots in the greenhouse around the same time as you with the greenhouse temperature between 50 and 60 degrees F and they are now around 5" high and I moved them to my unheated greenhouse today to harden them off.
I can see them now,with new potatoes,boiled gammon and parsley sauce,Mmmm.

[VirginVegGrower]

I guess it would depend on the temperature in your greenhouse as broad beans need 46  degrees F to germinate,I sowed mine in pots in the greenhouse around the same time as you with the greenhouse temperature between 50 and 60 degrees F and they are now around 5" high and I moved them to my unheated greenhouse today to harden them off.
I can see them now,with new potatoes,boiled gammon and parsley sauce,Mmmm.

Hmm sounds lovely - my mum used to do this meal but always left the skins on which as a child I peeled off with my teeth and got told off for. Guess she never knew to buy them small, peel them after cooking or better still, grow your own!

[Salmo]

After 4 weeks you should see something especially with the mild weather we have had recently.

Gently dig one or two beans up and see if they are growing.

If they are not in the pots the mice have pinched them,

[Paul Plots]

After 4 weeks you should see something especially with the mild weather we have had recently.

Gently dig one or two beans up and see if they are growing.

If they are not in the pots the mice have pinched them,

Or maybe it's been too cold / too wet and they have rotted 

[DD.]

Mine took just under 3 weeks in the greenhouse, as said, you should have seen something by now.

[lotti lou]

Thanks for everyone's advice.

I checked one this morning, the seeds are still there.
My greenhouse is unheated - so maybe it was too cold for them. I will try them in a heated propagator for now.
Think I will buy another packet of seeds as well!

 

[fatbelly]

A few years ago mine were planted in pots in my unheated G/house and they took ages to show, but that year was my best ever BB crop.

[DD.]

The don't need the warmth of a heated propagator. That can cause them to rot.

[prakash_mib]

sorry to hijack this thread. can i sow BB direct (imperial longpod). if yes when is the best time 

[Kristen]

I put mine in the kitchen until there were signs of germination, then moved them to the unheated conservatory.  They didn't do much there (there were very few good warm days in Late January / Early Feb) so I bought them back into the kitchen for the night for 3 or 4 nights (and back into the conservatory for the light during the day) and that has got their leaves up a bit.

[prakash_mib]

right!!
this real hijacking of thread. 
am out from 5th march till month end.
1. can take out the seeds bung them in the soil this week
2. use DD's trays (can I use them? root disturbance?) to sow in window and on 22nd-25th move'em out and plant them just before I board for holidays

Please advice...
(waiting with dining room full of messy compost and cat litter tray filled with compost) 

[Christine]

Mine have been on kitchen window ledge for about ten days and are showing nicely. Are in seed trays and will soon need to be put into pots.

I'd put mine into an unheated conservatory if I had one but it's a bit early to put things in the ground where I am due to it being still wet and cold north eastern clay.

Even in Bristol I'd say it's a bit marginal putting them out unless you apply cloche to soil now to warm it up a bit. Try it and see but be prepared to buy another packet for a later sowing I would say.

[Lardman]

right!!
this real hijacking of thread. 
am out from 5th march till month end.

Don't worry about them, you can directly sow until May(ish), the crop will just be a little later and you may have to do something about the black fly.

Mine are still in their packets and will be until the soil warms up,  its too much like hard work to transplant them.