The beans only need to be covered in very cold weather - with a clear cloche tunnel or horticultural fleece. Hi Marthe. ", "Hi Leslie C. I think you should be fine growing in a milder climate such as Southern California. Not the best time of year, then, for outdoor veg to be sown. However, assuming mild weather you could expect beans as soon as April. Published social history author. Unless, that is, you happen to be a broad bean. ", "My daughter-in-law who allotments alongside me thinks we should wait for the first really cold snap before planting out broad beans. Do this by pushing bamboo canes into the ground to create a double row of supports flanking each block of beans. They are doing well, have been in flower for several weeks, but no bean set. Date of writing jan 28. I have already put in 3 rows - say 30 beans - and have covered them with a black net tunnel. You could, of course, plant the beans directly into greenhouse borders or pots, but bear in mind they can grow relatively tall and will be occupying valuable greenhouse space in spring - precisely the time you'll be wanting to sow other crops. There's not really anything you can do about it. I'd say you're autumn sown beans are right on schedule. The reason for sowing broad beans in autumn is to get an earlier crop and avoid blackfly. If you need help designing your vegetable garden, try our Vegetable Garden Planner. Never heard of that before, will have to try it. should I do I've never seen any other allotment holders to this near me? It establishes reliably, crops early and grows to a manageable metre (3ft) tall. Second, these early broad beans are less likely to fall prey to black bean aphid, an inevitable pest of spring-sown beans. Enjoy your beans - they're fantastically generous plants! It’s the one I overwinter and would heartily recommend. ", "I sowed Aquadulce back in November and now have shoots some 3" tall. ", "Hi Ben, ‘Bunyards Exhibition’ – sweet and subtly flavoured, with a delicate texture The e-mail does not appear to be correct. This will act as a further guard against black bean aphid and encourage longer, better-filled pods. You’ll get better results if you belt in your beans. This can take a little guesswork but a gentle squeeze of the pod case will give you a good idea as to the size of the beans inside. Expect the pods to follow in time - probably sometime late next month. It’s the one I … Or, to phrase it a bit differently, how many plants do you need per person? Perfect for pots … Waiting for a cold snap would risk delaying the beans' development. They may have blackened tips for a number of reasons - possibly fungal disease or even severe frost damage. Quite why any seed would want to push out its juvenile roots into a soil flirting with freezing point is anyone’s guess, but it certainly works in the kitchen gardener’s favour. Broad beans Broad beans can be sown in the ground in autumn or alternatively in pots. I would suggest that if a plant is in infected with disease it might be best to remove the whole plant, as it's highly likely that even if the disease isn't showing elsewhere on the plant it could be within it and about to establish. During cold weather it pays to cover the plants with fleece for added protection. Once they are in the ground there’s really little to be done. This time of year isn’t renowned for being one of new life and opportunity. I am also reading conflicting advice about chocolate spot. October 29, 2020 0 For an early harvest of Broad Beans next year start sowing in October and November plus January in a mild-winter. I personally do not wait for a cold spell to plant. In my experience I get a few weeks head start at most before the spring sown beans start producing, therefore I mainly sow in autumn to enjoy the anticipation of seedlings bursting into life through the soil, while everything else around them is taken by winters firm grip. Assuming you plant them now you should be in line for a crop as soon as late spring - say late May or June.