Planting season for broad beans

[Robert_Brenchley]

How late have other people planted BB's and had a crop? I've always had success from March plantings, but crops I've put in later - to prevent cross-pollination - haven't produced anything.

[Robert_Brenchley]

[ruud]

I also plant them in march outside but i sow them earlier in the greenhouse.

[powerspade]

I keep a record of everything I down at my allotment and I mean everything weeding pruning sowing and any odd jobs
Last year I put my Broad beans in on the 13th march

[Tin Shed]

My late sown broad beans always get very bad blackfly so I don't bother anymore and only sow the autumn ones.

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's been one problem with late-planted ones, but the main one has been non-pollination, or at least, non-development of seed pods. This year it looks as though it's going to be Aquadulce Claudia in mid-Feb, Crimson-Flowered in mid-March and Red Epicure in mid-April. Weather permitting, obviously, and we'll see how they do.

[chriscross1966]

I've found that getting rid of the black ant population significantly improves the blackfly problem. put ant bait traps down around your beans and the ants farming the aphids will be easier to control.... for starters the ladybirds and other predators will be able to get to them....

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's a thought. My plot is overrun by black ants, and I've always taken the view that they do a lot more good than harm. So far the three varieties I'm growing have been able to shrug the aphids off, but I have had other varieties devastated by aphids.

[Tee Gee]

I usually sow in pots last week in March or first in April and plant out about six weeks later.

Never failed yet and I rarely get blackfly infestations.

I remove the growing tips after five flower trusses!

I don't know if that is down to sowing date, tip removal, good luck or the timing is right to miss them.

Whatever it is; I will continue with this procedure!

[Robert_Brenchley]

It may be down to variety. I've found that Aquadulce Claudia copes with aphids well, even when it's smothered, while Cosso Violetto had no resistance at all and got slaughtered.