I was recently given some Broad Bean 'Crimson Flowered'
Heritage seed, organically grown.
I soaked 10 seeds, on tissue, in a plastic cup covered with clingfilm, placed on Boiler top (+/- 70 degrees F). After 8 days, 4 seed were showing a 'tiny' root. I potted these up in cardboard tubes (toilet roll centres) and placed in a propagator at 55/70 degrees F.
Failure ... seeds rotted. The 6 other seeds did nothing
I am about to try again ... what am I doing wrong ?
all advice welcome
PS have used this same method with French Beans with great success
mikey
Dunno. I just put my broad beans in compost in toilet rolls on the windowsill. Now they're sitting in the garden waiting for me to plant them out.
My red epicure broad beans germinated in days just plonked into paper pots. I don't do the whole soaking thing, have lost many seeds through rot. Just bung them in pots of compost, water well and leave them to it, they will be through in no time!
The next lot here will hopefully go directly into the soil. Only planted indoors to keep them safe from the mice.
I think you are just giving the seed too much heat. Perhaps there is a temperature inhibitor involved in broad bean germonation?. At this time of year I would just plant them straight outside, as long as you don't have MICE :o
I did read somewhere (how many of my posts start like this ... :P) that broadies don't like to germinate if it's too warm. Maybe that was it? Mine (Red Epicure and Sutton) are out in the kitchen plumping up on kitchen towels (apparently MICE don't like beans/peas once germinated), will put them in the soil tomorrow and maybe cover with fleece for the forecast cold snap.
some of my red epicures have also rotted, but most have germinated well, dont know what went wrong as they were all treated the same!!
Fancy telling my mice and voles that superspout! They eat the beans and peas as the darn things are growing! GGRR
Yes, but have you told them E-J? ;)
Maybe the choice of language I use it confusing them ::) Bl**dy little furry critters! :)