Topic: Need to redo the broad beans... advice?

[chriscross1966]

Weel the cold snap has killed off all my broad beans so I'll have to restart. in other folks experience am I likely to get anywhere by sowing (in modules indoors then hardened off) now with Aquadulce Claudia or should I wait a month or so and go with Sutton and similar dwarf earlies?... I already have seed of several sorts so not a problem on that front.

[BarriedaleNick]

Mine are looking very ropey as well so would welcome some input...  >:(  >:(

[Paulines7]

I sowed all mine in modules last year and then planted them out in early Spring.  The problem is they really took off indoors and were very tall before I planted them and although some of them succumbed to the cold, they threw up new shoots when the weather improved. 

Mine were Aquadulce Claudia too.  I have found from experience that it doesn't seem to matter when they are planted as they are very rapid growers, so you should get an early crop.

Why not plant some in modules indoors in early March and sow some of your dwarf earlies too?   

[Fork]

My seed was sown in individual pots around march last year and were put out as soon as they where big enough to handle...had a great crop.

[chriscross1966]

Thanks folks...Think I'll get some more AC's going in the new year, they can have the cold frame until something else needs it..... they'll have to share it with my strawberries though :D .... come mid Feb the Suttons and Witkiems can go in as well and they'll be followed in march by the two Longpods and the Crimson FLowered (I love broad beans :D).... Not stuck for space now I've got the second plot :-)

[shirlton]

We lost all our Aquadulce last year due to the weather.This year we put a double scaffold net around the outside of the wire frame enclosure. Yet to see if it has worked. Will probably go see tomorrow.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'll probably start mine in pots in a few weeks, then aim to plant out early in March.

[BoardStupid]

Mine were doing great until the cold weather too

Will get a few going in poly this week and then plant out later on. Received some nice module seed trays for christmas

[Robert_Brenchley]

Between waterlogging and cold winters, I've given up on trying to overwinter them for the time being. If I can get a few raised beds sorted out, I'll probably try again.

[skintnbitter]

I lost all mine last year due to the weather, so this year I just decided not even to bother.

I will start mine off indoors in a few weeks time and plant out once the worst has passed. 

[chriscross1966]

I'll keep perservering with attempting to overwinter.... I get the seeds in Wyveales 50p sale so they don't really owe me much, it's not like i use shop-bought compost to hatch them and they're using ground that nothing else needs.....

[Robert_Brenchley]

I save my own - which is why I've been trying successional planting - but it's the waterlogging rather than the cold which is defeating me at the moment. It's a major problem.

[shirlton]

Went to look at ours this morning and apart from 1 or 2 they are ok. I am sure that the scaffold net windbreak around them has done the trick.

[PeterVV]

Just got back from checking mine, half are gonners, the rest are ok, so will pop back down tomorrow and stick some seed in, and also plant some in modules, nothing ventured nothing gained!
Mine were under fleece, which was flattened by the snow, so no surprise that half are goners...

[shirlton]

These last 2 years are the first time that we have lost them. They are very hardy and the reason that we wire net is to stop the vermin eating them.

[1066]

I sowed mine in trays in Nov, and they've had there dose of snow, and all seem fine. Going to sow another batch in the next week or so.
Last year I had a miserable time with Black Fly. So fingers crossed !

[PeterVV]

I have decided not to replace the half of mine that have suffered just yet, I will leave it a month or so.

[jimtheworzel]

I have decided not to replace the half of mine that have suffered just yet, I will leave it a month or so.

stick to spring sowing, at least that works and you get a crop.