Sow broad beans in two UK windows: October to November for an overwinter crop harvested May to June, or February to April for main crop June to August. Autumn sowing uses hardy varieties like Aquadulce Claudia surviving minus 10C. Sow 5cm deep and 23cm apart in double rows. Broad beans germinate at soil temperatures as low as 5C, making them one of the earliest vegetables to sow.
Key takeaways
- Autumn sowing in October to November gives a harvest 4-6 weeks earlier than spring-sown crops
- Aquadulce Claudia is the standard autumn variety, surviving temperatures down to minus 10C
- Spring sowing from February to April suits all varieties and is more reliable in northern UK regions
- Sow seeds 5cm deep, 23cm apart in double rows with 60cm between each pair of rows
- Pinch out growing tips when the first pods appear to reduce blackfly infestation
- Broad beans fix nitrogen in the soil through root nodules, benefiting the next crop in a rotation
broad beans vegetables planting times grow your own allotment autumn sowing spring sowing
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