When to plant broad beans?
Sow broad beans outdoors from March to early May, and in October or November only in mild or very sheltered spots, with hardy varieties. In Campania the written sowing is between November and December; in Sicily, in a Mediterranean setting, between mid-November and early December, and Umbria's calendar lists them for December too.
When, by region
| North | Centre | South | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | Outdoors in March, April and early May. In October or November, or in February, only in mild or very sheltered spots, with hardy varieties and cover in cold spells. In Valle d'Aosta, from March once the soil can be worked; in the cold, late winter or early spring. | The ARPA calendar lists them for December too. January is not among the months that calendar writes. | In Campania, between November and December. In Sicily, generally between mid-November and early December. A delay past that point, on the small-seeded types, cuts the yield. |
| Spacing | Seed 5-7.5 cm deep, plants 15-23 cm apart. Single rows 45 cm apart, double rows 23 cm apart with 60 cm between the pairs. Indoors from February, 5 cm deep. | As in the north for the spring sowing. December is the month Umbria's calendar adds. | For the garden type, in Campania, 10-15 plants per square metre, seed 5-10 cm deep, rows 30-50 or 70 cm apart. In Sicily, 5-8 cm deep. Below 0 °C growth stops. |
Below 0 °C, in Campania, the plant stops. Mice look for outdoor seed: a pot, from February, keeps it out of reach.
March, April, early May, October or November, February in mild areas, 5-7.5 cm and 15-23 cm, are from the RHS. March once the soil can be worked, and late winter or early spring where it is cold, are from Valle d'Aosta's Informatore: autumn to early winter, in that text, is for warm temperate areas. December, and the absence of January, are from Umbria's sowing calendar (ARPA). November-December, 10-15 plants per square metre, 5-10 cm and the stop below 0 °C are from Campania. Mid-November to early December, and 5-8 cm, are from Sicily. Peas are in when to plant peas. The months are in the March calendar, April, May, October, November and December.
Spring, and autumn only where it is mild
The RHS sows outdoors in March, April and even early May. In October or November, or in February, only where the winter is mild or the spot is very sheltered, with hardy varieties and cloches or fleece in cold spells. The seed goes 5-7.5 cm (2-3 in) deep, scar downwards, 15-23 cm (6-9 in) apart. Single rows 45 cm (18 in) apart. Dwarf varieties fit a pot at least 40 cm (15 in) wide, seeds 5 cm deep and plants 15 cm apart. Indoors, from February, one seed a pot at 5 cm: mice don't find it, and sodden soil doesn't rot it.
In Valle d'Aosta, start in March, as soon as the soil can be worked. Where the climate is particularly cold, the text prefers late winter or early spring. Autumn and early winter, in succession, it keeps for warm temperate areas. The seedbed is in the homemade seedbed.
Campania, Sicily, Umbria
In Campania sowing is generally in autumn, between November and December, so the plant uses the rain and avoids hot spells while the seed fills. For the garden type, eaten fresh, the stand drops to 10-15 plants per square metre. Seed goes 5-10 cm deep, deeper if it is large, rows 30-50 or 70 cm apart, often in stations of 4-5 seeds. Below 0 °C growth stops, and with it nitrogen fixation. Flowering and pod set are the stages most sensitive to cold.
In Sicily, in a Mediterranean setting, the best date generally falls between mid-November and early December. Seed goes 5-8 cm deep. Delaying can limit broomrape, whose seed does not germinate below 8 °C, but too long a delay cuts the yield, especially of the smaller-seeded types. Umbria's ARPA calendar lists broad beans for December too. January, in that calendar, does not appear. The short guide is in peas and broad beans.
The tip, water, roots
Once the lowest flowers have set small pods, the RHS pinches out the tip. The plant puts its effort into the pods, and blackfly, which colonise the soft tip, find less to feed on. The tips are edible. In the ground, water as flowering starts and again two weeks later. In a pot, often. How much is in watering.
When the harvest is over, cut at the base and leave the roots, which fix nitrogen. They sit with peas and beans in crop rotation. Supports, stakes and string, hold up the tall plants. Dwarf ones, in a double row, often hold each other. Blackfly is in pests and diseases.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
When do I sow in the north?
Outdoors from March to early May. In October, November or February only in mild or very sheltered spots, with hardy varieties. In Valle d'Aosta, from March once the soil can be worked; where it is very cold, late winter or early spring.
What about the south?
In Campania, between November and December. In Sicily, generally, between mid-November and early December. Below 0 °C, in Campania, growth stops. Seed goes 5-10 cm deep in Campania and 5-8 cm deep in Sicily.
Is December written for Umbria?
Yes, in the ARPA sowing calendar. January, in that calendar, does not appear. The spring month stays the RHS one, from March to early May.
Why pinch out the tip?
The RHS does it once the lowest flowers have set small pods. The plant works on the pods, and the soft tip, where blackfly settle, is gone. The tips are edible.
How far apart?
The RHS: 15-23 cm, seed 5-7.5 cm deep, rows 45 cm apart. In Campania, for the garden type, 10-15 plants per square metre. In a pot, dwarf varieties, a container at least 40 cm wide.