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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: psymes on January 21, 2007, 14:23:29

Title: Advice on Broad Beans for a very new gardener
Post by: psymes on January 21, 2007, 14:23:29
Hi all

I hope some can help.  I planted broad beans back in October, Super Aquadulce SMALL, which is a dwarf variety.  All of the seeds have germinated and I now have 24 plants all approximately 2ft tall.  However, today I noticed that they have started to flower, small black and white flowers.  My concern is that we are due a frost later this week and should I be taking steps to protect them now that they are flowering, or wil they survive a frost as is?

Many thanks in advance

Pete
Title: Re: Advice on Broad Beans for a very new gardener
Post by: cornykev on January 21, 2007, 15:22:11
They should be winter hardy by now a lot on this site cover but I have left mine, it depends where you live and are you sheltered.
Title: Re: Advice on Broad Beans for a very new gardener
Post by: redimp on January 21, 2007, 15:43:44
Not sure the flowers are winter hardy though.  I would take steps to protect them with fleece or something.  You may still lose the flowers though and have to hope for a fightback later in the season.  Not expecting flowers on my full size Bunyards or Aquadulces for sometime.  My Bunyards were sown at the end of October and are only 6" tall.
Title: Re: Advice on Broad Beans for a very new gardener
Post by: psymes on January 21, 2007, 18:27:58
Many thanks for the advice, I am in a fairly sheltered spot on the site, but according to the BBC forecast for my area SW London we are in for a couple of days of frost.

I think I will err on the side of caution and cover with fleece.  I suppose it won't do them any harm to have some cover for a limited period.
Title: Re: Advice on Broad Beans for a very new gardener
Post by: saddad on January 21, 2007, 20:30:34
Will there be enough pollinators about? The fleece will make it even harder for them so don't leave it on too long...
???