Topic: sowing broad beans to overwinter is it worth it?

[albion]

Hi everyone
Have got some aquadulce broad bean seed, is it worth sowing now(soon?) or should I wait untill spring?
If there is a benefit to overwinter, whats the best way to sow, in situ or start them off in pots?,
Should they be covered?
I am in Cheshire if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance.

[kt.]

Sow some in modules in a unheated greenhouse first week in Feb to plant out in March, then when you transplant them, direct sow a second batch direct into the ground to give a subsequent harvest later.  Overwintering will only give you a harvest around 3 weeks earlier if you can be bothered with the hassle.  Personal preference really.

[elvis2003]

we use both methods as we love them so much, cant get enough of em! Like the feeling of having something going over winter too,and you get the reward of seeing little shoots emerging a tad earlier,a feeling we cant wait for! Plus its quite satusfying to sow over winter as its a job for next year already crossed off the list,same goes for over winter onions et al

[Melbourne12]

We've tried overwintering them with mixed results.  In the end we decided it wasn't worth it.  Just start 'em off bright and early in the spring.

[chriscross1966]

Yes last year, no the two years before that, just about the year before that, no the year before that, yes , yes just, yes, no, yes, no, yes, yes.......

If I find that pack of Aquadulce then I'll sow them mostly as manure testers rather than for any need to get a crop from them

[Palustris]

I think it depends on the kind f Winter one normally gets. Here when we tried over wintering them, we lost  every plant even in the 'normal' winter so for us an early sowing is more successful. My son, in a warmer area does very well with over-wintered ones. Take your pick!

[Digeroo]

We have very severe frosts and strong NW winds here and I have never been successful at overwintering them.  My best attempts have only produced beans about 10 days before the Feb sown ones and a very measely amount of them.  The birds, squirrels, voles,deer etc etc like them too.  I prefer to wait for a whole portion of masterpiece greenlong pod than put in a lot of work for a few aquadulce.

Though I might sow some self saved seeds as green manure and if they produce the odd bean it will be a bonus.

[planetearth]

Sow them late Oct or Nov.

They will germinate and only peep through an inch or two before sleeping and surviving the winter in Cheshire (that's where I am).  Aquadulce are perfectly suited to this technique.

They will be at least 3 weeks earlier to crop next year than spring planted and perhaps the biggest advantage is that you won't get any blackfly on the tips and their sticky secretions, something to do with frost I suppose?

[grannyjanny]

That's 3 of us from Cheshire . There's a BB called Express & it gives an early crop.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's not really worthwhile for me because of winter waterlogging. If your site is well drained, it might well be.

[laurieuk]

I think in the south it is well worth while. I always sow during October and only on a few occasions have I lost many.

[artichoke]

As always, I reply that it is worth it. We have had 2 terrible winters in the South East, but even so, I have had early broad beans just when I want them. Any gaps can be filled up by fresh chitted seeds (damp cloths in plastic bags) when frost keels them over.

Elderly King of the Plots treats his broad beans like potatoes, and earths them up to help them over the winter.

[albion]

Thanks lovely people, good advice as ever!
Will be giving them a go for sure.
For those in Cheshire I am in the heavy clay bit not the posh sandy soil area

[markfield rover]

Just to add to what Elvis2003 has said-
We love going for a walk on Christmas morning to see the new shoots! (west Midland)

[gavinjconway]

I planted some in pots to get started a few weeks ago and they are doing well. About 3" tall now so going to get them planted out asap in the plot. I'm also going to start some in mid Nov to compare Oct and Nov sowings..

Will I need to cloche or protect them over winter?  I have some A frame cloches (see below) made of poly carb and plastic roofing that I can use as  a basic protector..

[Unwashed]

Like Elvis, I've autumn-sown them before because it's nice to have something in the ground over the winter.  If the snow hasn't sat too heavy on them then they've come through fine and they seem to get away well in the spring, but in bad years I'll lose half.  Many times I've seen them planted too early so they get all leggy and nesh before the winter sets in, they really want to get some root on but very little top, so I'd say it was still a week or two early to be sowing them yet.

[Bing]

I sowed them direct in soil last November, with the help of this year's rain, I had a very big and early crop!

[Kea]

I haven't done it for a while as the mice eat them but as i had a lot of spare seed I decided to sow some most have come up but there are little pits where the mice have dug up the rest and eaten them.

[sunloving]

GavinC yours look great.
I've got about 20 valencianas in pots in the gh for a little winter flutter. But will definitely put a cloche over them when they go out. You never know they might make it!
x Sunloving

[gavinjconway]

GavinC yours look great.
I've got about 20 valencianas in pots in the gh for a little winter flutter. But will definitely put a cloche over them when they go out. You never know they might make it!
x Sunloving

They are now planted as my early earlies... I'm going to sow another row or 2 in pots on Bonfire day as this is the date I have been given by loads of people just to do a comparison between Oct and Nov sowings. .