Broad Beans out now??

[sawfish]

I have just planted out 160 Broad Bean seedlings which I had growing in 3 inch pots in my cold frame. The part of ground I put them in is relatively moist, quite heavy and clay based, it is also a reasonably shady corner.

What do you reckon my chances are of the beans surviving?

[sawfish]

[markfield rover]

my fellow plotee did that just before the 'Big Snow' only lost 10%
talk to them nicely (when no ones looking)

[sawfish]

where in the country are you though Markfield?

[markfield rover]

Sunny, at the moment, Hereford ,a little south of you!

[sawfish]

I just thought since you can plant them in Autumn they must be able to take the cold.

[legless]

my autumn planted ones were fine in the snow and they were far too big and leafy really, broad beans are quite hardy, mine are in full flower now actually. If they were my baby bean plants i'd risk it, but i've always done autumn planting - both oop north and here.

[sawfish]

Whats your favourite variety?

I've got....

Red Epicure
Bunyards Exhibition
Masterpiece Green Longpod
Witkiem Manita

[saddad]

We mainly grow Sutton over winter and Red Epicure in Spring... Have got some red flowered and Violletta to try this time..
::)

[Trevor_D]

I sowed my first batch on January 26th & planted them out (under plastic cloches) on February 21st - about a week earlier than normal. They were crimson-flowered ones from HDRA. I've never had any serious problems about planting out early. (YET!!)

I also planted a batch of Aquadulce last October and they look fairly happy. This was an experiment. The only time I've over-wintered them before was a waste of time. I lost half the crop and the rest produced pickable pods on the same day as the spring-sown ones!

[markfield rover]

I am the only person in my family who really dislikes them!
that is why I am only growing
aqua whatsit
bunyards exhibition
crimson flower
red epicure

a fool to myself I know!

[sawfish]

In the last gardeners world mag they reckoned Bunyards Exhibition tasted best in their trial of 6 varieties. No red ones though.

[woody]

Putting my BB'S out tomorrow, my first crop in my new lottie ;D

[flowerlady]

If you get concerned about the coming cold snap ... and you can get your hands on some straw ... you could tuck your baby beans up nice and snug  ;D

[legless]

i wasn't impressed with red epicure, the yield was low, we have aquadulce claudia in at the moment and i'm going to bung some bunyards exhibition in when we get back from sweden if husband doesn't get the job

[saddad]

I've grown exhibition as well, you didn't try to overwinter Epicure did you? I tried it once and it was an almost total failure....
:-\

[potterfanpete]

can I plant my barlotta lingua di fuoco beans yet then in my just frost-free greenhouse?

[Jeannine]

No Pete, they are much more tender, hang tough for   awhile yet with those.
XX Jeannine

[MrsKP]

my overwintered in pots aquathingies went in the well worked but still basically clay wet ground on 3/3.  Immediately thereafter, if you recall, we had rotten weather (ha ha like we don't normally), so they were protected under a fleece cage until I removed the roof tonight.

They have stood their ground and are looking quite well with a couple of plants even having flowers already.

My Green Windsors (sown in pots in the heated g/h around the same time but can't find the date in the diary doh !) just coming through now.  Will be a while yet before they go out to play !

;D

[Marymary]

I planted mine out under choches about a month ago & the problem is they are getting too big for the choches - should I take them off or pinch the tops off or what? 

[MrsKP]

i'd say, yes and no.

yes take the cloches off, but no don't pinch out the tips until they get hit with blackfly.  Mine never were attacked last year and ended up about 4' tall.

The wind tends to have a go at mine though which is why i've got the fleece round them.  If there's any bees in the vicinity (not seen any since the last really sunny spell) they can pop in over the top of the windbreak (in theory).

;D