Sowing Broad Beans

Broad beans can be sown from late winter to spring, either under cover for an early start or directly outside once the soil begins to warm.

Sowing

Sow Broad Beans in pots under cover in January-February. Use deep pots or root trainers as Broad Beans have long roots. Sow one seed per pot 5cm deep, and water well. Keep pots in an unheated greenhouse, cold frame, or bright cool window. Broad Beans only require protection from frost and no extra warmth.

Repeat the sowing process a few weeks later for a second crop and also as insurance policy.

Planting Out

Once plants are 15cm tall and roots are filling the pots, harden young plants off and plant them out, space 20cm apart. Keep an eye on the weather and cover plants with fleece at the sign of any frost.

• Deep pots when sowing encourages Broad Beans to send out their deep routes preventing tangled roots leading to stressed plants.

• Firm soil around young plants when planting out. Broad Beans hate wind rock and suffer badly if not secured against the wind.

• Broad Beans enjoy moist soil, as temperatures rise mulching around the base will help lock in soil moisture.

• Once the first pods form its time to pinch out the growing tip, this increases pod size and prevents blackfly.

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