Planting Broad Beans straight out or greenhouse first?

[ohareward]

Hi Michelle, broadbeans normally take about 12-15 days to germinate.
Robin

[baldowrie]

I have mine in the greenhouse as we are still a bit cold with strong winds....perils of living half way up a hill!

[mew]

Hi Robin

Thanks for the info.

Ive checked on them again this morning and still no show im afraid. although I have lots of lettuce and cabbage showing.

Keeping my fingers crossed. Ive watered them gently a couple of times as i noticed them getting a little dry, poss because they're in the loo rolls, I dont know. Dyou think this would have hindered them?

Ill be really disappointed if they dont show as everyone says how easy they are to grow. What kind of gardener will I be if I cant even get my broadies to sprout

I can always sow some more I guess

[ohareward]

Hi Michelle, I think you will get better results planting direct. With most beans, if the ground you are planting them into is prepared before hand, moisten the ground well, plant the seed about 4-5cm down, using a dibber, gently rake the area and then tamp it down with the back of the rake. The area should not need watering again until the beans show, as I said, it will take 12-15 days to do so.
Robin

[sawfish]

Have faith young Mew, may the force be with Mew.

Well it was absolutely Baltic here in Glasgow today with icy winds and hailstones hammering my face like needles. My broad beans were growing fine after transplantation to the ground last week, I'm hoping they will still be alive tomorrow.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!

[mew]

Hi Sawfish

like the star wars comment made me LOL.

Will try and keep the force close by. If they havent popped up to say hello by the weekend think I will take a closer inspection at one of them to see where I went wrong, as it'll be 3 weeks this weekend when I sowed them.

Robin thinks Id get better success if I planted them direct. What dyou think? Im tempted to plant some direct this weekend at the plot and plant some in pots (as opposed to the current loo rolls ) in the unheated greenhouse. Ive heard soaking them overnight supposed to help to.

Did your broadies survive the bad weather - hope so

[Christine]

Hurrah! Aquadulce germinated 100%!!!

Onwards and upwards with the radiator method. I did find I needed to keep them nice and moist, Mew, but they had no problems at all with the toilet rolls and the roots started coming through the cardboard even before they went in the gorund.

I planted them inside because of the potential for slug damage but will have a go at putting them in direct, now I have one or two standbys.

Risotto recipe sounds too good to miss, Greenbean

[Cheezy]

I do a combination planting. Early aquadulce I plant direct with a closh over.(december)
This has nothing to do with the cold but everything to do with the bloody wood pidgeons. I also plant the same in pots in the green house/cold frame. These are back ups/ first earlies.

Then I move onto Express (Feb)again some in pots , some direct.

I find pots give them a better chance against slugs and are good fill ins for any casulties.

[sawfish]

Yes they're fine, the -2 frost didn't affect them at all.

I think the best way to grow broadies is to ignore them, just dont overwater them if they're in pots.

I've heard seeds grown in situ in the ground results in stronger plants.

[MadTom]

Broad beans and peas always seem to do best direct planted.
They do OK if you start them off in pots tho - this year I have lost two 30' rows of broad beans and eight 6' rows of peas to something.
I dont know if its birds or rodents or a combination of the two but as the seedlings poked their heads up something dug them up and ate them all!
Waaaaah!

[Cheezy]

I've had a devil of a job with my peas this year due to mice on the allotment. Seems its a variable problem depending on the weather.

So far the advice I've had is:
1. Don't bother wasting your time on them!.
2. make a drill, water this well, sow peas, cover with soot then soil
3. Soak peas over night in chilli oil, dust with extra chilli then sow
4. Buy the pink coloured peas that have anti mouse stuff on them.