hello, how are your broadies ? I thought the voles had scoffed mine, as last week only one had broken the surface, so I was really pleased yesterday when I visited to see that they are now all poking thir heads through the surface ... its taken them 4 weeks to surface !!
Mine took three weeks in pots - I transferred them to the plot yesterday and have just been up there. Despite there being quite a sharp frost last night, they look very happy in their new position. :) Have just sown some aquadulce in the pots as I did not quite fill my two rows - the first lot were Bunyards.
I`m not the earliest to show up in this cold weather either but the broad beans seem happy enough under baby poly tunnels :)
Mine are 4inches high and I think doing all right. :-\ :-\ ;D ;D ;D
ours took about 6 weeks to do anything - are about 2 inches high now - planted some peas at the same time and these are doing about the same too.... they are not covered at all...
Mine aren't up yet...
???
Hi mc55, hi all :-)
I have the opposite problem, I`m worried that mine are too tall, about 4 inches to a foot. I have them supported by string fences and protected by a double thickness debris net fence to keep the wind off.
I think I planted too soon and the warm october brought them on too fast but I had the soil ready, seeds at hand and time to plant them. So I got on with the job.
I think they are likely to be damaged in a storm or they will be rocked around and the slugs will get to the bases next spring. I will earth up any that get through the winter and go for an early planting nex year.
Col
Hi folks
Planted mine in October. They look superb right now - all about 18inches - 2ft tall but from what you all say this is probably a bad thing and they will be zapped by wind, frost, slugs, etc. I have got them staked and will wrap them round with horticultural fleece when the frost comes. Will this be enough I wonder to get them through the winter? Probably not so I will be making an early sowing too. The garlic and onions are flourishing too but the green manure (mustard) that I planted on two beds back in October is looking very limp now. Guess I will just dig it in when it gives up the ghost? :-\
Mine are still in their seed packet! Spring sowing for me it seems!
Just been to look at my broadies - I have 4 nice rows of holes and snapped off shoots - is this mice or pigeons? At least I can now plant a spring variety and still have plenty of time! :(
Hi - back to the boards after a while (although I have still been reading on and off) and have just come back from a flying visit to my plot (too soggy to do anything). My 2 rows of broad beans went in one week apart and the first row came up very quickly but the second are lagging behind and have one or two missing. The first row are about 1-2 inches high and are still curled up. Do I need to protect from animals, birds or elements?
Looking forward to the new year to put into practice all the helpful advice found on her over the past year. I will have had my plot for a year come end of January so can't wait to get going again... :)
i'm with you Ej Spring for me,
last year i was a little to keen and had a conservatiory full of plants
Needless to say the ban imposed by ones better half still stands !!! the only relent she has is that my chillis, Peppers and some Tom plants can only be started off in there !!!
carlos
Mine have finally started to come through.... and we will be planting Red Epicure in Spring as well...
;D
Might are a bit leggy too. Probably because I started them at home? Should have got them out into the cold frame as soon as germinated. Or germinated them in the cold frame?
They're all surviving ok - planted out in November. The fleece is off them now - but I'll try to get it back on if a frost is forecast. They've had to cope with some quite strong winds - I'm more worried about the peas - I'll be amazed if any see spring...
Quote from: tulippa on December 30, 2006, 12:48:59
Just been to look at my broadies - I have 4 nice rows of holes and snapped off shoots - is this mice or pigeons?
Tulippa, mine have succumbed to some critters attention too - have lots of little holes next to the shoots which have been snapped / trimmed at ground level
Not sown any broad beans yet, but what is the consensus between white/green seeded beans. My preference is for green beans as they tend to be sweeter, and have more taste, especially if picked very young.
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Not really thought about it much, my criteria have been for spring planting (autumn seeds getting eaten by mice) and availability. Currently, I have just bought 1kg of Masterpiece Green Longpod, which will probably last me two years ...
These are green, by the way :)
Derek
Hi all,
As an update to my earlier post. A few did get bent and broken in the winds but I snapped them off completely at the break and I figure the stem will put out side shoots.
They came into flower before Christmas which I think is too too early ? but the stems are thick and they look strong so I think they will make a crop eventually.
Col
:) Mine are six/eight inches high but seemed to have stopped in the cold spells still haven't covered will check tomorrow, been away so better go and check on things. :) :) :) :D ;D
Hi Col
My BBs are so tall I've tied them to canes as we've had lots of windy weather. Mine also started to form flowers just before the cold snap before Christmas. These suffered in the frost but I am hopeful that they will have another go in the spring. I've got fleece around them at the moment - hope I'm not killing them with kindness! We shall see. ???
autumn leaf
Been up lottie this afternoon...mostly to burn xmas tree, but my 2 rows of broadies are about 2" tall and about 4 leaves each! hoping to plant a few more rows shortly.
Regards
matt
my acquadulce are doing fine in their black buckets (all but one germinated), but something is having a chomp at the leaves. Not quite shredded but something is definitely having a chew.
I've surrounded with them the contents of my hairbrush and egg shells but anyone got any idea what might be feasting and what I can do ?
Do they look like tiny neat half-circle chomps that make the leaf edges look 'frilly' kaypee?
nothing "neat" about them, but you might say frilly. ;D or should that be :'(
Take a look here kaypee, it might be the Pea and Bean Weevil:
http://www.organicgardening.org.uk/factsheets/pc25.php
Advice from HDRA on that link, if it looks like that, and more advice:
From plot regulars: puff underside of leaves after rain or watering with Derris dust
From SS: ignore, they will grow out of it
From Geoff Hamilton, Barnsdale Gardens: admire the Wonder of Nature that can give you frilly-edged leaves on your peas and broadies in Spring, then ignore, they will grow out of it; if desperate, use Derris but he reckons they do little harm other than cosmetic :D
SSxx
I'm sure the neighbours will have phoned the police by now "mad woman in the garden in the dark with camera" !
LOL@kaypee
:-[ ::) that looks like slugs to me. Have you got any of those organic ferrous based slug pellets?
Come on, what does everyone else think? 8)
No idea what is chomping at them, but it has not affected my crops in the past. As soon as the plants start growing vigorously, the munching will not be noticed.
Derek
I have two types ! I guess one of them will be the ofbsp type (the other type being blue lol).
So much for the human hair/eggshell approach. Little blighters.
:-X
Last year as the Broadies started pushing through the ground the slugs attacked some of them :o, I put down pellets and they never touched them again loads of dead slugs thou ;D ;D. But I was under the impression they only attacked early seedlings but what do I know. :) :) :) ;) ;) ;) :D :D :D ;D ;D ;D
Generally looks like slugs to me... probably the little black ones that are decimating my chinese cabbage in the frame!
:'(
maybe they were early seedlings when they were chomped ??? the top leaves seem to be surviving atm, so maybe sluggy has got bored now.
Now I'm back home, I'll keep a closer eye on them for varmints.
mine are healthy but too big and leafy, if the weather does get cold then i think they'll be in trouble.
i planted (in suffolk) when i would have planted them before (in newcastle) and then its been so mild. its a learning curve this down south thing!
no frills though, for the first time ever.
Went for a swim up the lottie this morning, heres mine in picture form! Too me they look far too advanced for Jan. In fact it all is, even the weeds are growing...its been on average 14 degrees during the days lately!
Regards
Matt
Well I'd have a song in my heart if my broadies looked like that matty ::)
Hello all,
I sow mine in the spring every year and allways get a good crop from strong plants.
Quote from: MattyJC on January 09, 2007, 17:13:20
even the weeds are growing...its been on average 14 degrees during the days lately
I've got dandelions in full flower :-\
Didn't see any Dandelions but there are plenty of weeds still growing!
;D
wouldn't want you to miss out dad - shall I pop some in the post ? ;D ;D
I got some nettles for you Dad. ;D ;D ;D
That wasn't quite what I had in mind for the Fuseau Swop Michelle!
;D
;D ;D
Been to the lottie today and the broadies look very healthy blowing about in the wind naked. :-[ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D