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Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: davee52uk on July 03, 2008, 21:52:07

Title: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: davee52uk on July 03, 2008, 21:52:07
Last year I put some broad beans in to overwinter. I sowed some in the greenhouse in Feb and planted these out in March

Results: Overwintering beans were poor with some plants dying out. They got heavily infested with blackfly which I got rid off by spraying off. The early sown are great cropping really well and din't get much in the way of blackfly.

Anybody else tried this sort of thing?




Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: glosterwomble on July 03, 2008, 22:10:54
Last year I sowed broad beans inside and planted out in Feb / march... poor result, lots of blackfly and hardly any beans.

This year, sowed end of Oct 07 and overwintered directly in ground ... hardly any blackfly, fantastic early crop of masses of beans.

Total opposite of your results by the look of it.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Kea on July 04, 2008, 17:16:55
I'm with Glosterwomble and they got chocolate spot later when they were nearly finished. Could depend where you live and soil type etc
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Trevor_D on July 04, 2008, 17:36:21
I tried an experiment for Gardening Which many years ago: sowed one batch in late autumn, most outside, but some in pots in an unheated lean-to mini-GH; sowed 2nd batch early spring, again mainly outside, but some in pots in mini-GH. Result: most autumn-sown outdoor plants either died or were sickly; and the first meal was picked equally from all four batches!!

So I've never bothered since, until the year before last when I happened to have a bit of spare ground that needed something growing on it over winter. So I tried autumn-sown broad beans again. Brilliant success! Every plant survived and I had the first picking at the very beginning of May. We picked pounds & pounds and they lasted us until well after the spring-sown beans. (Spring-sown = sown in modules on February 1st, planted out on March 1st o.n.o.)

So last autumn I repeated the experiment. Same brilliant results! Autumn-sown now gone and replaced with leeks & brassicas; spring-sown still going great guns. (OH threatening divorce if we have to eat them again!)

OK, I'm in the deep south, but our site is windy; the last two winters have been fairly mild & dry, but my plot is a frost-pocket. Global warming? But autumn-sown broad beans are a fixture for me now. (Aquadulce; the spring-sown is HDRA's crimson-flowered variety.)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: asbean on July 04, 2008, 21:38:35
The year I tried over-wintering broadies we had heavy snow and high winds in February, when the plants were beginning to grow. It really knocked them for 6, and I haven't done it that way since.

Last year I put some seed in the ground early, and they took AGES to come through,so I sowed some more later ones and they were all ready at the same time.

Now I grow them in root trainers, alll together early in the year.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: KathrynH on July 10, 2008, 22:52:27
For the last few years I have sown Aquadulce in the greenouuse in October and planted out in November. Each time I have had a fantastic early crop which is just about coming to an end by the time the blackfly have noticed them. The only time I did a spring sowing gave me much smaller plants, fewer beans and a serious blackfly infestation so I haven't bothered with them again.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Hot House on July 27, 2008, 23:03:50
Last year I had some (no idea what sort) out late so stuck them in the GH and we had our first BB before would normally sow them.

we be growing more this winter in the GH (not heated)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sally A on August 16, 2008, 12:38:12
My overwintering ones cropped earlier than the ones I planted at the end of Jan.  In fact as soon as the overwintered ones were done, the Jan planted ones came into their own - almost like I planned it ;)

Re blackfly - I clipped my dead hydrangea flowers in early spring and noticed there were hundreds of ladybirds overwintering in them, so I kept the deadheads and put them in an upturned basket (to stop them blowing away) and placed this near the beans - result, loads of ladybird larvae sorting out the aphids.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 16, 2008, 12:47:03
My overwintering ones cropped earlier than the ones I planted at the end of Jan.  In fact as soon as the overwintered ones were done, the Jan planted ones came into their own - almost like I planned it ;)

Re blackfly - I clipped my dead hydrangea flowers in early spring and noticed there were hundreds of ladybirds overwintering in them, so I kept the deadheads and put them in an upturned basket (to stop them blowing away) and placed this near the beans - result, loads of ladybird larvae sorting out the aphids.

when did you sow your overwintered beans.
I'll check the hydrangea bush next spring. I'm also planning to erect a homemade insect box next to my infested runnerbean plants which are also covered in ladybirds, to encourage them to stay in the vege patch.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sally A on August 16, 2008, 13:06:07
I think I sowed them October (Aqua Dulce), the biggest enemy they had were winter gales, as they'd reached about 2ft+ in January.  I rigged up some poly-sheeting around them which helped greatly, so definitely recommend protection.

If it's viable, could well be worth taking hydrangea cuttings to plant in the veg plot; more of a natural ladybird house.

(How did this get in Under Glass?)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 16, 2008, 14:52:52
I think I sowed them October (Aqua Dulce), the biggest enemy they had were winter gales, as they'd reached about 2ft+ in January.  I rigged up some poly-sheeting around them which helped greatly, so definitely recommend protection.

i normally stake mind for the same reason.

(How did this get in Under Glass?)
how did what get in under glass?

If it's viable, could well be worth taking hydrangea cuttings to plant in the veg plot; more of a natural ladybird house.

this is a good idea i will take some cuttings today.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sally A on August 16, 2008, 15:12:46


(How did this get in Under Glass?)
how did what get in under glass?

This topic?  Broad beans are normally sown outside.  OK granted a few people start them off under glass, but normally just to infill plants that fail to germinate outside, or those that get mucnhed by slugs >:(
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: shirlton on August 16, 2008, 15:17:08
We grew aquadulce for 2  years and havent been dissapointed, however we do put stakes and strings up for them. If you weave the string in and out of them like a zig zag then they stand up quite well. We always sow them straight into the ground in October
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Tulipa on August 16, 2008, 15:20:24
I made two sowings of Aquadulce, both of which dissappeared (mice?) :( So then sowed Exhibition Longpod as it was too late for the Aquadulce, I have had an amazing crop from them and still picking so will grow them again next year. :)

T.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sally A on August 16, 2008, 15:33:45
Is that the Bunyard's Exhibition ones?
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sparkly on August 16, 2008, 15:40:23
There was an article in 'grow your own' magazine about this. They concluded it wasn't worth it. I have never overwintered beans, but I am planning to do it this year. If they don't do well I will just dig them in like green manure.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Tulipa on August 16, 2008, 15:45:25
They were Suttons Giant Exhibition Longpod

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_194090_Broad_Bean_Giant_Exhibition_Longpod.htm

I remembered seeing a posting on here about them so gave them a try.  Really glad I did, definitely more beans in each pod. :)

T.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Sally A on August 16, 2008, 15:53:06
They were Suttons Giant Exhibition Longpod



So was that more of a Feb sowing outdoors?  Woth knowing incase the Aqua Dulce's get flattened/munched etc this winter.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Tulipa on August 16, 2008, 16:00:42
That's exactly why I ended up sowing them!  I had just 2 plants left from Aqualulce sowings and found Longpod much better.  I could try both this/next year and see which is best, or they may follow each other in which case I will get a nice long season?

T.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 16, 2008, 16:05:08


(How did this get in Under Glass?)
how did what get in under glass?

This topic?  Broad beans are normally sown outside.  OK granted a few people start them off under glass, but normally just to infill plants that fail to germinate outside, or those that get mucnhed by slugs >:(

who knows how it got under glass, but hey these things happen. :)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Eristic on August 16, 2008, 21:48:31
I always sow broad beans the last week of October and have found them resilient to whatever the weather throws out and do not appear to suffer from aphids. To prevent germination losses plant deeper as in 3-4 inches deep. This puts them out of range of casual foraging pests and while mice always get the blame, (sometimes justifiably) the real culprits in my locality is the jays. As a precaution I cover the sown area with debris netting if available until new plants emerge and stabilise.

If space is available,  ::) I plant another crop in late February to follow on. The variety I grow is my own saved seeds from Aquadulce parentage.
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Tin Shed on August 16, 2008, 21:59:05
Always do an autumn sowing as they tend to miss the worst of the blackfly. Put some more in Jan and they did ok as well. The blackfly doesn't seem to have been so bad this year.
Knowing my luck they are regrouping as I speak, gathering all their strength for next year!!!! ::)
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 16, 2008, 22:19:45
Always do an autumn sowing as they tend to miss the worst of the blackfly. Put some more in Jan and they did ok as well. The blackfly doesn't seem to have been so bad this year.
Knowing my luck they are regrouping as I speak, gathering all their strength for next year!!!! ::)

not so bad this year? not so bad this year? :o are you joking me. from what i could see this year, there only seemed to be blackfly, every other pest took a back seat and let them get on with it in my garden. not so bad this year what is he on about. ;) ;D
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Amazin on August 16, 2008, 22:57:37
Yes, thanks Thifasmom, I really appreciate you taking all the blackfly off my hands this year. Next year, could you have a go at the carrot fly?

Cheers!

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 16, 2008, 23:51:30
Yes, thanks Thifasmom, I really appreciate you taking all the blackfly off my hands this year. Next year, could you have a go at the carrot fly?

Cheers!

 ;D ;D ;D
no problem next year i'll send my slugs ;D ;D
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: Amazin on August 18, 2008, 00:10:49
On second thoughts, I wouldn't want to appear greedy, would I?

 ;D
Title: Re: Overwintering broad beans vs early sowings
Post by: thifasmom on August 18, 2008, 00:18:28
On second thoughts, I wouldn't want to appear greedy, would I?

 ;D

are you sure each container of slugs come with a free container of snails ;)
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