Starting broad beans

[caroline7758]

I want to grow lots of broad beans this year, starting them off inside and was wondering what't the best thing to sow them in? Would loo rolls be ok?

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

Ours have been sown in them. Do the same every year.

[saddad]

I've sown mine in cells (before Christmas) and now they have two true leaves they will be going out soon... 

[caroline7758]

Thanks- guess what I'm doing tomorrow!

[Monkey Brains]

I sow mine in deep rolled-up newspaper pots, to give the roots space, and plant them out when they're about 6 inches tall.

[Digeroo]

I use 500ml yoghurt pots four in each I put the bean down the side of the plastic or chit in kitchen roll and then straight outside under bottle cloches.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Mine go in pots about the end of next month or the beginning of March, then I plant them out at about three inches.

[Kea]

I've become a fan of root trainers. In my house my toilet roll collection kept disappearing into the recycling while I wasn't looking

[Alex133]

I use loo rolls for other beans/sweet peas but have found growth poor unless peeled off before planting except in very wet seasons. (I sow broadbeans outside in November covered with fleece - even last year when temps down to -8 grew brilliantly - Aquadulce)

[Dandytown]

I might use yog pots too as if I cut the bottom out and keep the lid I can easily slide the plants out when I transplant.

Some plants I was given last year came in clear plastic cups and it was good to see the roots.

[carbonel11]

I have had mixed results with the toilet roll method. The plants seemed to sit for a while after planting out and never seemed quite as vigorous as their counterparts planted straight into the ground. I did harden them off.

[AlanO]

For a novice could someone explain the advantages/disadvantages of loo roll tubes please.  I appreciate they are free but so are yogurt pots etc.  Thanks.

[Duke Ellington]

You can plant the whole tube.....

[AlanO]

Ah got it!  Presumably this dosn't disturb the roots as much and the paper/card eventually rots away.  And its quicker.  Don't worry to reply if I've got it right.  Cheers Duke.

[Digeroo]

Welcome to A4A AlanO.  They take up less space than yogurt pots so less space on crowded window sills.  I tend to use them for Dahlia seeds. 

For me the best yoghurt pots are slightly conical so easy to get the plants out by gently squeezing all round first.  I avoid straight sided ones.  Unfortunately they changed the format of my husband favourite tesco yoghurt.

It does not take long for the roots to come through the loo roll tubes. 

[caroline7758]

I think the main think with planting out toilet rolls is to soak the whole thing thoroughly before putting them into the ground so that the cardboardrots more quickly and doesn't create a barrier. I usually also tear off the top half inch or make sure it's below the surface.

[earlybirds]

have tree plantings early one are a foot tall down to two inch , thats in west sussex, mal.

[Duke Ellington]

As Caroline said

Remember to bury all the loo roll or it will act as a kind of *drying wick* and this will slow down the growth of your plants. I also make sure that I water well when using toilet roll tubes ....dont let the compost dry out.  This will hinder the rotting of the toilet roll tube.

Duke

[Russell]

The nearest I get to indoor planting of broad beans is four or five days in the bean sprouter in February before dibbing in (carefully) to the bed. There is very little work and the crop is at most a fortnight behind someone who has done all the rootrainers/loo rolls/pots in greenhouse work.

[gwynnethmary]

I just plant in situ and they come up!