People who grow their own vegetables can sow broad beans as early as now or even November as they are a hardy vegetable and can be planted in pots if there has been rain
A delicious vegetable can be sown now to bring a bumper crop as early as next May in people’s gardens.
Broad beans are large and some varieties such as Aquadulce Claudia can be particularly hardy so are able to be planted now, or even as late as November. Spring is a little more reliable but for those unable to wait it can be done now – even with the recent heavy rain.
GardenersWorld ’s Monty Don said: “If it was dry I’d be growing broad beans now but the chances of it…being dry are pretty remote. At the moment it’s absolutely sodden. We had a lot of rain.
“The result of that is it could be wet right from now until next spring. It doesn’t mean to say I can’t grow broad beans. They do very well in pots and then can be planted out as young plants as late as next March or April.
“These would stay ready to sow for at least the next year so perfectly good to sow direct into the ground next spring but I want to get ahead. Use a potting compost rather than a seed mix as these might well stay in the pot nearly six months so they need a little nutrition.
“Then just plant one seed, per pot. If you can sow them outside, prepare the soil, sow them about nine inches apart and then let them germinate. The problem with having them outside is mice love them, so in many ways growing them in pots is a lot easier.”
Earlier this week, experts at garden tool manufacturer Gtech shared a list of the best vegetables to grow which can “survive” the winter. Gtech gardening enthusiast Lucy Rhead explained: “Following the washout summer, many Britons will be looking to revive their garden this winter and keep those fingers green.
“Planting vegetables for the cold months can save time and money on your food shop, as well as give your garden a little extra life throughout the colder and darker months.” One option are carrots. Lucy said: “Sow your carrot seeds directly outside in rows through November and December.”
Slugs and snails are some of the main risks to carrot plants, so make sure to take precautions to ensure they don’t get eaten. It will take 12 to 16 weeks before they are ready. By making repeated sowings, gardeners can enjoy them all year. It’s important to harvest them as soon as they’re big enough. You can remove them from the soil by lifting them carefully with a fork.