Vertically Challenged Broad Beans

[Alison]

OK so my over wintered broadies died a death which wasn't too much of a worry as I don't normally bother. Anyway, decided to just grow crimson flowered ones at the lottie this year from seeds saved last year in the splendid isolation of my front garden. They all germinated and I planted out 40 of them at the end of March as normal. Nice stocky plants that look good. Anyhows, I know it's been colder than normal but they've not really grown much (a bit but still on the short side) but are now starting to flower. Never had ones this diddy, will they be OK cos if they don't put a spurt on then the pods will be dragging on the floor, they're only about 8 to 10" max tall

[ginger ninger]

They do sound a little vertically challenged Alison, I'm growing crimson Flowering Broad Bean's this year and there about 14" tall which is still small. I was under the impression they grew to around 38"/40" tall, I'm hoping that when the weather warm's up they should grow a little taller, mine are also in flower. I would think they'll be OK Alison they'll probably grow once the weather pick's up.

[Alison]

They were about 3' ish tall last year as I remember and I wouldn't be so bothered if they weren't trying to flower!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I was remarking on this very subject to my lottie neighbour at the Hill last night - broad beans are less than a foot tall & are in flower.

They are seed saved from last year & the plants were about 3' tall then.

[Two_Sheds]

My crimson flowered have always been short: less than 24" for sure.

[lottielady]

I have grown this for the first time this year and mine have hardly grown since planting out and are in flower, guess mine would be less than a foot. Hope they put on a spurt if we get some warm weather.

[realfood]

The early crops are nearly always short; lack of heat and or water. Successional sowings will always be taller with the better conditions. My red flowered broad beans sown later will reach 1 m high.

[jackie j]

I also lost all my overwinter broadies and I started again with some I grew indoors The sutton I think, they are also short not grown much since I put them out.

[oliveoyl]

My overwintered Aquadulce are only 8 - 10" tall and are flowering, also the spring sown ones are even smaller and flowering too - not going to be a great year for them by the looks of it.

[planesailing]

My overwintered Aquadulce are only 8 - 10" tall and are flowering, also the spring sown ones are even smaller and flowering too - not going to be a great year for them by the looks of it.

Not going to be a great year for much at the moment the way this cold weather is. I shouldnt be able to see my own breath in May!

I have a few Autumn sowed Broad Beans that I did as a trial to see how they went and one is taller than the rest, around 2ft maybe and has flowered.

[HeyWayne]

My Martock plants are about 10 inches tall or so now - they were sown back in February I think. The crimson flowered ones are only about 4-5 inches tall, but no signs of flowers yet. That said, they were only sown in March.

Are you being heightist Alison?

[Alison]

Are you being heightist Alison?

You should see what I was going to call the thread originally! It looks like it's going to be a long way down for me to bend to pick them

[vicky]

My autumn sown ones are as small as yours! They did well to survive at all...
Luckily I have some from a sowing later this year which are looking taller! Hopefully we'll get a few beans off them regardless of height!

[Flummery]

Mine are both very short a the moment. The Crimsons are flowering at about 8" high. The Masterpiece Green Longpods are about the same height. They'll have to get a shift on if the aren't to trail their longpods in the dirt!

To be fair, they've had a horribly long, cold growing season. I'm sure a bit of warm will do them good - as it will all of us!

[Alison]

Mine are both very short a the moment. The Crimsons are flowering at about 8" high. The Masterpiece Green Longpods are about the same height. They'll have to get a shift on if the aren't to trail their longpods in the dirt!

To be fair, they've had a horribly long, cold growing season. I'm sure a bit of warm will do them good - as it will all of us!

The crimson ones are sons and daughters of the seeds you sent me for last year's growing season and I've given a few more of them onto friends and family. Am pleased that the strain appears to be true as all the flowers are crimson and that perhaps the height is more of a this year's problem for all of us rather than them having a strange cross going on!