Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello Folks,

I've planted bb's for the first time and have a question. Some the the beans seem to be generating a 2nd shoot, is this normal, do I cut it back of leave it?

Cheers
Danny

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Cheers

Danny

A 2nd shoot is normal. You'll get 3 or even 4 shoots.

I have to say, you're a wee bit premature.
Most of us don't sow our broad beans until late Oct/early Nov. They shouldn't put on too much leafy growth before winter, or they'll just get battered.

About 4 inches tall would be about right to get a racing start come springtime. You'll still only get a crop about a fortnight earlier than a spring sowing anyway, but some like the challenge

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I find that an autumn sowing beats the black fly next year. My first batch of 20 seeds went in yesterday and another will go in at the beginning of October and again in November. That way you get the tops as an early spring veg.

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

Hello Sheds,

Just read the seed packet again and it did say from Nov!! I am only growing 5 as I have limited space therefore would you recommend starting again in Nov or staying with the seeds already sown?

Cheers
Danny

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Cheers

Danny

I wouldn't waste them if they're growing already.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Hi Danny.....I planted my broadies in early October last year and they were a bit to big & leggy by the time winter had set in. They did OK though (good crop) and I did beat the blackfly. I shall sew in Nov this year though. I would keep the one's you've got going, you can always plant some more in Nov or in the Spring if they fall by the wayside.

Good luck
Christine

Thanks for the advice folks,

As I said in another post I'm trying winter stuff for the first time. As a lot of people on the vine say, why leave beds empty?

I'd really like to get a lotty but all the sites around me have closed registration and some have a few years waiting list!

My veg area consists of 4 1 metre square beds, hanging baskets for tom's, and the good old orange buckets for bits and bobs.

I've been talking to the wife with a veiw of claiming half the lawn for aditional veg space next year, watch this space.

Cheers
Danny

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Cheers

Danny

Dig for Victory Danny!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Yeah, how much lawn gets used during the year anyway? The only good thing about lawns is the trimmings in the compost heap.

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Andrea :wavehello

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...logs/zazen999/

moon trials completed:
tomatoes
[46% increase in crop per seed sown and 10% increase in crop per plant]

currently underway:
calabrese
garlic

Hi All

Quick question- do you sow BB's direct into the soil or in pots first & plant out?
Any problems to look for / avoid when sowing???

Newbee

Pots first, or else the slugs will get them.
Problems:... wind, rain, gales, frost, snow, snails, slugs ...

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

And of course our feathered friends and meeces!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

and when the plants start growing in the spring ... bean weevil, pigeons, blackfly ...


god, this gardening's hard work, ain't it?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Thanks folks..........Bean Weevil , what can I do to avoid this????

Hi All,

Going back to my original question do I leave the 2nd 3rd shoots on? If so do I support on different canes?

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Cheers

Danny

1) Bean weevil ... not a serious problem, do nothing.

2) you don't stake BBs with individual canes, you put one at each corner of your BB crop and put string around them.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Sorry to be such an ignoramus - but can you eat BB tops as veg? Never heard of it - do you cook them just like other greens?

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My hopes are not always realized but I always hope (Ovid)

Broad bean tops are delicious!!! Taste just like the beans. I chuck them in stir fry's or steam them. Same can be done with peas too

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Always look on the bright side of life
View my blog - http://chooksandveggies.blogspot.com/ updated November 1st 2008

How about cutting them off and planting separately, like tomatoes ?

Interesting idea. Would it work? We just left ours on this year and they were fine, got extra beans from them.

Hahaha - you wouldn't have wanted to eat ours, infested with the dread b***fly all over them - hopefully there will be some clean ones next year

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.

Hi Danny, out of interest how long did it take for the shoots to start to show? I followed the instrcutions on my packet but can't help but worry that they were planted too deep (the kids helped)

JD

Hello JD,

I planted them inside and they grew quite quickly, about 3 - 4 weeks I think. I then planted them out and that's when the other shoots started to appear.

Hope this helps?

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Cheers

Danny

Yes that helps. Planted mine directly into the soil 2 weeks ago. Not to worry just yet then.

Cheers, JD