When to Plant Broad Beans: Autumn or Spring?

Broad beans have two planting windows in the UK: autumn, in October or November, and spring, from February to April. Autumn sowings give the first beans of the year. Spring sowings are more reliable, especially in cold or wet gardens.

This guide is all about timing: which window suits your garden, which variety to pick for each, and when each sowing will crop. For sowing technique, support, blackfly and picking, see the full guide to growing broad beans.

Autumn sowing: October and November

Sow hardy broad beans in October or November for the earliest crop. They come up before winter, sit as short, sturdy plants through the cold, then grow away fast in spring. Beans are usually ready from late May or June.

Timing depends a little on where you are:

• South and south-west England: sow from late October to mid-November.
• Midlands and northern England: early to mid-November usually works best.
• Scotland and cold, exposed sites: autumn sowing is less reliable. Spring sowing, or sowing in pots under cover, is safer.

Don’t sow too early. Beans sown in September grow tall and soft before winter, and frost and wind knock them about. Short, stocky plants come through best. The guide on what to plant in November lists the other crops that go in at the same time.

Is autumn sowing worth the risk?

In most UK gardens, yes. The main dangers are wet soil and mice, not cold. Seeds rot in waterlogged ground, and mice dig them up and eat them.

In cold or wet gardens, sow in deep pots and keep them in a cold frame. Plant out in late winter for an early crop.

If your soil is heavy clay that stays sodden all winter, sow in a raised bed or start the beans in pots. Covering the row with fine mesh or chicken wire until the seedlings are up helps keep mice off.

Gardener’s tip: In cold or wet gardens, sow broad beans in deep pots in November. Keep them in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse over winter and plant out in February or March. You get an early crop without the winter losses.

Spring sowing: February to April

Spring sowing works everywhere in the UK, from Cornwall to the Highlands. It carries less risk, and you can grow any variety.

February: sow outdoors in mild, sheltered gardens once the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged. Warm the soil under a cloche for a week or two first. Elsewhere, sow in pots under cover. February’s planting guide covers other early sowings that pair well with broad beans.

March: the main sowing month for most of the UK. March sowings usually crop from late June into July.

April: a second sowing three or four weeks after the first spreads the harvest. April sowings are ready from about July into August.

Broad beans cope with cold soil better than most crops. These spring seedlings will be cropping by early summer.

Can you sow broad beans in May?

You can sow in early May, but it’s the tail end of the window. Late sowings flower in warmer weather, often suffer more from blackfly, and give smaller crops. If you’re sowing late, choose a quick variety and keep the plants well watered.

Which variety for which sowing?

Pick a hardy variety for autumn. For spring, you can grow anything.

If you only sow once, Aquadulce Claudia is the most flexible, as it suits both windows.

How to sow broad beans at any time of year

The method is the same whenever you sow.

A garden line keeps the double row straight. Covering the row with wire mesh stops mice digging the seeds up.

1. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil.
2. Make holes 5cm deep with a dibber or trowel.
3. Space them 23cm apart in a double row, with 23cm between the two rows.
4. Leave about 60cm between each pair of double rows so you can get in to pick.
5. Drop in one seed per hole, cover and firm gently.

Sow a few extra at the end of the row to fill any gaps later.

Sowing in pots and containers

Starting beans in deep pots or root trainers lets you sow when the ground is too cold or wet. Sow one seed per pot, 5cm deep, and keep them in a cold frame, cold greenhouse or porch. Plant out when they’re 10-15cm tall, after a week of hardening off.

Dwarf varieties such as The Sutton also grow well in big pots, at least 30cm wide and deep. Sow a few seeds per pot in spring and keep them in a sunny spot.

A big pot of dwarf broad beans by the back door is handy for picking. The Sutton stays short and needs no support.

When will my broad beans be ready?

Your sowing date decides when you’ll be picking. Pods are ready when the beans inside are plump but still bright green.

Pick pods when you can feel plump beans inside, but before the scar on each bean turns black.

Broad bean sowing calendar

Common broad bean timing mistakes

Sowing autumn beans too early. September sowings grow tall and soft before winter. Wait until October or November.

Sowing into cold, wet soil. Seeds rot. Warm the soil with a cloche first, or start in pots.

Forgetting the mice. Autumn and early spring sowings are a mouse buffet. Cover rows with mesh until seedlings are up.

Sowing everything at once. One big sowing gives one big glut. Sow again three or four weeks later.

Sowing too late in spring. May sowings flower in heat and often get heavy blackfly. The guide to black bean aphid explains how to keep it in check.

Frequently asked questions

When should I sow broad beans in the UK?

Sow in October or November, or from February to April. Autumn sowings crop first, from late May or June. Spring sowings crop from late June to August and are more reliable in cold, northern gardens.

Can I sow broad beans in January?

Yes, but sow them in pots under cover, not outdoors. Use deep pots or root trainers in a cold greenhouse or cold frame. Plant them out in March once they are 10-15cm tall. Seeds sown straight into cold, wet January soil often rot.

Is it too late to sow broad beans in May?

You can still sow in early May, but expect a smaller crop. Late sowings flower in warmer weather and often get more blackfly. April is the last really reliable month for spring sowing.

How far apart should I plant broad beans?

Plant them 23cm apart in double rows 23cm apart. Leave about 60cm between each pair of rows so you can reach in to pick. Sow each seed 5cm deep.

Which broad bean is best for autumn sowing?

Aquadulce Claudia is the classic autumn variety. It’s hardy and reliable through a normal UK winter. The Sutton is a good choice for windy sites and pots, as it stays short and bushy.

Why did my autumn-sown broad beans die?

Usually wet soil, mice or a sowing that went in too early. Seeds rot in waterlogged ground, and mice dig them up. Plants sown in September grow too tall and soft and get damaged by frost.

Once your beans are sown, check when to plant garlic, which shares the same autumn window, or plan the rest of the year with the UK vegetable planting calendar. More guides live in our growing section.