Sowing Broad beans

[Rox]

Hello,

I would like to start off my braodbeans this weekend - I was planning on germinating them indoors on a sunny windowsill and then putting them out in my cold frame in a few weeks time before planting in their final spots. I'm trying to get a really early crop (that's why I'm not putting them in the coldframe from the start - given last year's experience germinating them outside in cold weather, I assume this would add quite a few weeks to their development...  Has anyone used this indoors + coldframe technique, and if so, was it okay? thanks for any help/advise!

[Rox]

[supersprout]

morning rox, you shouldn't have any problem and the beenz will appreciate shelter especially from wind early on. I did read somewhere that they prefer it to be cold, ie they don't germinate so well in summer, so even if your windowsill ain't sunny you should be OK. Mine are in a cold (unheated) room in toilet rolls, started off earlier this week. Just remember to harden them off gradually in your cold frame, I am often too impatient and they keel over when planted out  :-[

[Curryandchips]

Cool is preferable, a windowsill at this time of year is probably ideal, as it wont be too warm.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/factsheet/beans/

Mine are sown in trays in an unheated greenhouse, last week, so that they have protection from the cold winds.

[Hot_Potato]

I'm hoping to grow broad beans for the first time this year. As I've a limited amount of 'prepared' ground - just can't seem to get the digging done because of continual low back problems  :(.....I've bought 'The sutton' which is a dwarf variety.

Because I've no greenhouse, garage, or cold frame (live in a flat but do have a tiny patio - out of any sun tho!! I'm anticipating sowing them straight into the ground but should I consider possibly starting them in seed trays or pots and putting them on my one & only spare cool (no sun at all) window sill (once I've got my seed potatoes out of the way)....however, if I do that....how do I 'harden them off' without the aid of a 'cold frame'??

Does this mean I can't/shouldn't  grow them?

Would welcome some advice please....H.P.

[supersprout]

You'll be OK planting in the ground if you can Hot_Potato, and you've picked the best variety around  ;D (join the 'I love the Sutton' club!). If you wanted to start them indoors, take them outside during the day to harden them off when they have two to four true leaves, bringing them in at night, for about a week, then plant out with some cover just in case. But they are hardy beenz, if your soil is workable and you're short of space, bung em in - the biggest danger is meeces, rather than cold!

[Larkspur]

They can be planted in the soil once this very cold spell has finished. You could start them on your windowsill as soon as possible and once they are up start to harden them off by putting them on your patio in the daytime and bringing them in at night. Alternatively you can make a perfectly adequate frame for hardy veg out of a cardboard fruit or veg box from a supermarket covered in polythene or bubblewrap at night. ;)

[grawrc]

What a good idea LArkspur!

[katynewbie]

:-[

Ahem...Stupid question...

How far down the loo roll do I put the Broad Bean??????

Planning to do it NOW, never done the Broad Bean/Loo roll thing before!!

[Larkspur]

I have been using boxes like that for years grawrc but I think the credit for the original idea must go to the late, great Geoff Hamilton. :)

[grawrc]

I liked him a lot. He had great gardening ideas.

[grawrc]

Katynotso newbie I have never used loo rolls, but I would imagime you plant them at whatever depth is recommended on the packet - for my Super Aquadulce that's 5cm.

[katynewbie]

;D

Lol... thanks grawrc, will see what happens!!

Maybe notesonewbie on here, but still know very little!!!

;)

[Larkspur]

Yes, and inparticular he came up with some great money saving ideas. It was from him that I learned how to raise tender seedlings in a cold greenhouse by keeping the seed trays in fruit boxes (again) and bringing them back into the house every night till the temperatures improve. You can stack the boxes six high. Lot of seedlings!. ;)

[Hot_Potato]

Wow - what a lovely quick response to my question - thanks everyone.....got another query now after reading this from S.S....the biggest danger is meeces, rather than cold!....silly question I know but.....is there anything I can do to 'deter the little darlings??

Haven't got any of that fab. fleece stuff I hear you all talking about but could get some - would that help or restrict their growth - or does it gently move upwards as plants grow? (said it was a silly question :-[)...how long would I leave it on if I do use it?

Oh and what a great idea Larkspur - your tip about the 'home-made' cold-frame....will have to go & have a 'chat' with nice man in Waitrose who kindly gave me a few of their empty flower buckets (one of which is  over my rhubarb right now ;)

H.P.

[katynewbie]

Have heard of people putting mouse traps along the row, but not sure I could cope with that!!
Thats why I am starting them off in pots etc instead of sowing direct, think the little darlings go for the bean seed rather than the plant.

[Curryandchips]

Yes, in pots or seed trays, raised perhaps on a bench or table so the mice cannot get to them. Once they have germinated and have a couple of inches of growth, then they can be planted out. The only other pest I have heard about is squirrels, but I have no knowledge of how much a problem these are.

[grawrc]

Yes my greatest problem is mice. I  have some kitchen units fitted in my shed and I made the mistake of leaving some broad bean seeds and French bean seeds in a drawer. They have transormed into mice droppings. ::)

[grawrc]

I thought of putting them in loo rolls on staging in (cold) greenhouse but if they can climb up inside the units in the shed I'm sure they could climb up there too.

[redimp]

I have heard that merely chitting them before planting is enough to prevent mice getting them.  Not been brave enough to try though and started mine off in pots at home.

[bennettsleg]

:-[

Ahem...Stupid question...

How far down the loo roll do I put the Broad Bean??????

Planning to do it NOW, never done the Broad Bean/Loo roll thing before!!

Not a stupid question at all.  I did the loo roll thing for the first time ever this year and guessed it - with B Beans - at about 1/3rd the way down.  two & 1/2 weeks later they're standing proud. 

6 out of 8 have come up, the tallest being a good 3 inches, the shorted about an inch. All in all I'm pretty chuffed and feeling a bit smug (always happens when some gardening actually *works* instead of keels over and swiftly dies!)