I have some broad beans in pots that I started off indoors, I hardened them off as kindly advised on here and they have been outside for about 2 weeks. Last night we had a frost and I think my broad beans may have been damaged. The stems looked a bit frozen first thing but seem to have thawed out now the sun is on them. What should I do?

They should be fine. Broad beans are relatively frost hardy it's severe frosts that they can't cope with.

Hi Kimbo,
I agree they should perk up again but if you are worried if there is a hard frost forecast you could just pop a few sheets of newspaper over them at night & uncover them first thing in the morning.

thanks, might have to invest in some fleece as one variety is quite tall already

Originally Posted by SueA

Hi Kimbo,
I agree they should perk up again but if you are worried if there is a hard frost forecast you could just pop a few sheets of newspaper over them at night & uncover them first thing in the morning.

the broad beans are in pots and have canes for support - what is the best way to put newspaper over them

You could wrap the paper around the pot & cane & sticky tape the edges together to make a tube around each plant then sticky tape another piece over the top to make a lid & then just slide them on & off as you need to.

Originally Posted by SueA

You could wrap the paper around the pot & cane & sticky tape the edges together to make a tube around each plant then sticky tape another piece over the top to make a lid & then just slide them on & off as you need to.

Thanks SueA, I have just been to Wickes and bought some foam underlay for laminate flooring (quite a large roll and not too expensive) and will be spending this afternoon making little jackets for the pots. I lost a couple of plants last night to the wind, so I have just ordered some more seed just in case I lose the lot.

Originally Posted by Kimbo

Thanks SueA, I have just been to Wickes and bought some foam underlay for laminate flooring (quite a large roll and not too expensive) and will be spending this afternoon making little jackets for the pots. I lost a couple of plants last night to the wind, so I have just ordered some more seed just in case I lose the lot.

Blue Peter strikes again - here is my answer to my frost problems hope it works - spent most of saturday afternoon making them

Originally Posted by Kimbo

Blue Peter strikes again - here is my answer to my frost problems hope it works - spent most of saturday afternoon making them

very good - they look like large hats!

and will you be making compost bins from your pallets, Val?

I have two large daleks already thankfully. I am thinking of going into the "hat" business as a sideline