Allotments 4 All

Last year I grew Aquadulace Claudia and sowed in a tray around this time and planted out. This year I have a few AC left and some Sutton to plant.

Are you all planting October/November direct or do you plant in seed trays?

How many plants do you all grow? I think i'll have to get some more seeds as I don't think i'll have enough.

Cheers :)

I tend to put in two packs of The Sutton, but as I have got some 25p packs from wyevale I will put in some more. Once you get past about 200 seeds direct sowing is probably the only way to go!
::)

Saddad will you be planting now?

i sowed my broad beans last week (slightly earlier than i would normally) and sowed about 80 seeds of super aquadulce. i grew these last year and had a very good crop with easily enoughto feed a family of four.  i have always sown direct and found they germinate well.  i usually double up seeds at the end of rows to use in fill ins for any that fail.

I sprout them in a wet teatowel for a couple of days first after a short soak, then sow direct :)

I've got a broad bean question too (hope it's ok to jump on your beanwagon Rosy).

I’ve got a bed which is in total shade during winter, and gets sun for half the day in spring/summer (runner beans have done ok there in the past).

If I start off some broad beans this month here, would they be ok in shade all winter if they get some sun from spring onwards? Space is limited so will have to rethink if this is a no-no.

Will probably put the BBeans in next weekend Rosyred... Pye I wouldn't recommend the site in the shade... mine all failed last year as that bed is in the shade from the toilet block for most of the winter...
:(

I will be sowing mine just as soon as the ground dries out a bit, we had the whole months rain fall in 10hrs here Thursday night!
The broadies I planted last year, did better in the sun, the ones that were shaded, by the shed and peas didn't do half as well

regards

Matt

i've sown my aquadulace in some pretty maids all in a row ring culture type affairs, as all my open ground is currently being used.

having now had one year's experience under my belt, you'd think i'd have got past the "if it works, it works" theory by now and actually plan a bit better.
[:D]

Been to the allotment today and prepared the bed ready for planting next weekend enough time to buy some more seeds. Thanks for the replies.

Something I think I've learned at long last: don't put much good stuff into a broad bean bed.

I reckon that because they fix their own nitrogen, anything extra makes them too leafy and tall and not too good at flowering. Everyone probably knows this, but at least I know it now. I'm keeping them lean and mean this year. I've sown a packet and a half in a lasagna bed that has already been well used by tomatoes, squashes and corn.

Too late for me done it now. Oh well wonder what cooked broad beans leaves are like haha

Sorry, Rosyred, didn't mean t o be depressing.  I'm cheerful because I went up to allotment andfound 4  broad beans germinating - hoping all the rest will be up soon. Dug for an hour in pouring rain but had to give up.

How deep do you all plant your seed?   :-\

Forefinger depth !

;D

Shallower than that in my Heavy clay soil, if it is soft I push them in with my thumb, if not a shallow drill about 1 1/2"...
8)

Silty soil here, dibbed hole 3" or so, but I don't cover them - the weather and mulch will do that. Any shallower - especially for the tall winter ones - and they keel over in the Fullness of Time :o

OK ... so that means any old depth then ...  ::)  ;D ;D

Yep, the heavier the soil the shallower, the lighter the deeper. If they look
a bit too proud of the soil after germination just earth them up a bit!
8)

:)Put my b beans in two weeks ago and they have just grown to about an inch or so high. I put them about an inch into the soil, had problems with slugs when i planted dwarf beans so a sprinkle of slug pellets was called for just in case.   :o