Thinking ahead to next year and an early crop – I sowed broad beans – which have now mostly germinated. I will soon plant out and cloche them to help protect against the worst of winter – who knows, they may even survive. Ever looking forward.
I think it was last year that I sowed broad beans in autumn, but I overwintered them in the greenhouse to be planted out in spring. Unfortunately, it was a cold, wet spring so they languished in the greenhouse too long and grew leggy, but they rallied once they were eventually planted out. I think the best bet is getting them sown early like you've done and then planting them out before winter sets in. Fingers crossed they do well for you.
Fingers crossed. I don't grow overwinter ones as the site is exposed so suffers from frost and wind. A plot neighbour who does reckons he loses up to a third even in a good winter. Flighty xx
I do hope they do well, I have lots that have self-seeded in the veggie patch, I've let them be. They did the same last year and I got a lovely harvest from them.xxx
Exciting times Elaine and the promise of a treat come early summer. I have seen some sturdy looking specimens planted by one of my plot neighbours. Fingers crossed that his and yours fare well.
My broad beans used to suffer terribly from black fly and other nasties, so I've given up. I now buy them at market, but there's a guilty feeling of failure about it.
Your mild island climate may yield you a great early crop. Here they would be covered by a metre of snow including the cloche by December's end... As I'm shovelling a path through the drifts for my little doggie come January I'll remember these charming little shoots, hoping they have survived the coolness of the season... Susan
I love to sow seeds at this time of the year, as it is such an optimistic thing to do, and it is that expected promise of the return of the sun ! I am sowing sweet peas at the moment !
I think it was last year that I sowed broad beans in autumn, but I overwintered them in the greenhouse to be planted out in spring. Unfortunately, it was a cold, wet spring so they languished in the greenhouse too long and grew leggy, but they rallied once they were eventually planted out. I think the best bet is getting them sown early like you've done and then planting them out before winter sets in. Fingers crossed they do well for you.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed. I don't grow overwinter ones as the site is exposed so suffers from frost and wind. A plot neighbour who does reckons he loses up to a third even in a good winter. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI do hope they do well, I have lots that have self-seeded in the veggie patch, I've let them be. They did the same last year and I got a lovely harvest from them.xxx
ReplyDeleteExciting times Elaine and the promise of a treat come early summer. I have seen some sturdy looking specimens planted by one of my plot neighbours. Fingers crossed that his and yours fare well.
ReplyDeleteIt keeps us cheery over the cold months to dream of next year and all of the plans we have!
ReplyDeleteJane xx
My broad beans used to suffer terribly from black fly and other nasties, so I've given up. I now buy them at market, but there's a guilty feeling of failure about it.
ReplyDeleteI hope that they do well for you.
ReplyDeleteYour mild island climate may yield you a great early crop.
ReplyDeleteHere they would be covered by a metre of snow including the cloche by December's end...
As I'm shovelling a path through the drifts for my little doggie come January I'll remember these charming little shoots, hoping they have survived the coolness of the season...
Susan
I hope that they do well for you, it is lovely to grow your own things isn't it. xx
ReplyDeleteI love to sow seeds at this time of the year, as it is such an optimistic thing to do, and it is that expected promise of the return of the sun ! I am sowing sweet peas at the moment !
ReplyDelete