[Ruby Red]

I went to the local garden centre yesterday and they had broad bean plants for sale. As I am desperate to get something in the veg patch, can I plant these (and when will they be ready) or can I now plant the seeds outside. thanks.

[Lardman]

You could do, although they will probably need to be hardened off first. You'll probably get beans around June/July. If you have the space you could drop a few bean seeds in some pots, I would think you'll be picking around 2 weeks behind bought plants.

As DD hasn't said it I will. Its early, the ground is cold and wet would you like to be planted now?

[Ruby Red]

Thanks lardman. just thought it would be ok because I know there are some broad beans that are planted back end , so theyve had to be out over the winter.

[JaK]

I have planted some broad beans under a cloche in a raised bed just to see what happens. Maybe you could do the same?

[Lardman]

Autumn sown plants have had time to germinate during the warmer weather and then get used to the cold. Sowing seeds into cold, wet soil is just asking them to rot.

I'll be directly sowing mine mid-late March, I find (Im sure others will say differently) the extra hassle of over wintering or starting them in pots, just for a meal 2 weeks early isn't worth it.

[DD.]

Actually, I sowed some in modules in the cold greenhouse in January and they've been outside for about 4 days now.  I'll pop them in the plot soon.

[Swing Swang]

Agree with lardman on my cold, wet clay

[Lardman]

Actually, I sowed some in modules in the cold greenhouse in January

  I stand corrected.

[shokkyy]

Actually, I sowed some in modules in the cold greenhouse in January and they've been outside for about 4 days now.  I'll pop them in the plot soon.

You know, I thought of doing that but decided broad beans would be too big for modules. What size modules are you using?

[Kristen]

You know, I thought of doing that but decided broad beans would be too big for modules. What size modules are you using?

Mine are in 3" pots - I figure that gives me a bit more leeway on planting out, as I can hold them back without too much check - little root disturbance when I knock them out too. They are out during the day now, and under cover at night.

[DD.]

Actually, I sowed some in modules in the cold greenhouse in January and they've been outside for about 4 days now.  I'll pop them in the plot soon.

You know, I thought of doing that but decided broad beans would be too big for modules. What size modules are you using?

Not far off Kirsten's I think about 2 1/2", just something I had kicking around.

[kippers garden]

Mine are in the cardboard toilet rolls tubes in my cold greenhouse.  I bought them in until the  first few germinated.  I sowed them at the end of Jan (Aquadulce variety).

I sowed seed direct at my allotment in Oct and not one germinated..i also sowed at the end of Oct in pots in my cold greenhouse-they never germinated either so that why i tried again in Jan....not sure if i was just unlucky or it was the seeds i used as both packets that didn't germinate were bought at the same time (unwins).

I'm determined to get broad beans this year!

[bayleaf]

I started some in pots on january 15th. Got them out under my homemade cloche two days ago. they seem happy enough.

[shokkyy]

Do you think I'd get away with sowing broad beans now, in modules or 3" pots, in my cold greenhouse? They'd be in compost rather than going into cold soil. But I should add the greenhouse isn't just not heated but not remotely frostproof either, because there's broken glass. I could maybe put some plastic propagator lids over them, at least until they germinate, but do you think they'd be warm enough to grow there? It's just that it'll be quite a lot of pots/modules and I'm keen to avoid putting anything in the house that I don't have to.

[Kristen]

I would have them indoors for a week, which will be enough time for them to germinate (if they germinate sooner move them out sooner), and then in the greenhouse thereafter. They won't hurt if they get frosted (but they will fare better in that regard than if they were in the ground - particularly if it is a wet cold). Germinating indoors will also stop the mice eating the seed compared to growing in the greenhouse - well, assuming you don't have mice in your house!  They don't need a lot of heat to germinate, don't mollycoddle them.  If you keep your central heating on "full" then a utility corridor or something "cool" will do.