On Monday I sowed a row of broad bean Karmazyn seeds. They only grow about knee high which makes them ideal for my rather exposed plot. The beans are pink, the flavour of which is highly rated and young ones can be eaten raw in salads. I’ll be sowing a second row in a months time.
I’ve had mixed success growing broad beans and hope that this year will be better than last year when they got so badly infested with blackfly that I had to pull them up and add to the compost heap.
On Tuesday I planted the first early potatoes Red Duke of York, and half the onion sets Red Baron and Sturon. When I looked round yesterday I wasn’t surprised to find that birds had pulled up a couple of the onions which I replanted.
It was good to see that a few more purple crocuses have flowered.
It looks like being sunny tomorrow but typically the rest of the long weekend looks like being mostly wet and windy. If it is then I will probably do some plotting at home sowing flower and tomato seeds in pots to start off on the windowsill.
Happy Easter!
Flighty's plot 
I’ll look out for that broad bean. Sounds interesting. I must get on, and catch you up! You are always about a week ahead of me. But I like to read your posts as it reminds me what needs doing next. All the best with your plot.
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Karen I know that both Chiltern Seeds and MoreVeg list it. I’m sure that I won’t stay ahead for long. that’s nice to know. Thanks. xx
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You have been busy. Broad beans are among my favorite vegetables. I was getting bags of frozen broad beans from a grocery store here, but they’ve stopped carrying them due, they tell me, to lack of demand!
Hard to believe Easter is upon us! Happy Easter to you!
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Liz I sure have. It’s a shame that you can no longer get them. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen them sold like that over here.
It sure is. Thanks, and you too. xx
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Awesome update thank you for sharing have a blessed day and a happy Easter
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Linda thanks, you’re welcome and you too. xx
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Not heard of those broad beans so will try next year. I always sow before and after winter. About 10 have survived the wet and windy winter then I will add another 15 in a week 😉
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Allotmental hopefully I’ll be able to say what I think of them this year. I don’t overwinter anything on my plot. Cheers.
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You’ve made a good start. It’s an exciting time of year starting the gardening season off again. I haven’t sown anything yet but it’s nearly time to start my tomatoes off and get some potatoes planted in containers. Hope you have a lovely Easter whatever the weather.
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Jo I’m well pleased so far. It sure is. That’s fine as it’s getting lighter and warmer now so they’ll soon catch up. Thanks, and you too. xx
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I shall look out for the Broad beans they sound ideal for me this year. I need to get my potatoes planted too. Hope it isn’t too cold for you this weekend xx
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Jo both Chiltern Seeds and MoreVeg list them. It’s sunny today but the rest of the weekend looks like being wet and windy. xx
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Sounds like a good couple of days. I’m growing Red Duke of York too this year – for the first time.
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Matt they certainly were. It’ll be interesting to see what you think of them, I was impressed last year. Cheers.
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No! The dreaded blackfly, I had naively forgotten about that battle to come, gggrrrr.
It’s so sad that the weather is going to turn but I guess we can sofa garden 🙂
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Carrie some years are okay so let’s hope this will be one.
Yes it’s a shame that all weekend couldn’t be sunny like today. We can indeed, and that’s what I’ll be doing. xx
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Wishing you a lovely Easter Mr F. It is interesting to hear how you are preparing for your harvest later this year. xx
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Menhir thanks, and to you too. That’s nice to know. xx
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Those broad beans sound great. I really like eating them raw as well, delicious. I don’t have great success with them, never a huge harvest, but I always keep trying. They’re such an early harvest that they always seem like an extra special treat. Glad to see I’m not too late to sow them. CJ xx
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CJ I hope they are. me too. That’s a shame, let’s hope that they do well for you this year. You can sow them as late as May. xx
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I’ve grown Karmazyn beans for the past three years and can attest to their great taste – I think they’re the nicest of broad beans. One puzzle though – mine have always grown to over a metre tall! I started a few off in modules in February and will plant those out soon and then do another round in a couple of weeks – it’s an experiment as I’ve read that early sown broad beans are less prone to aphid attack. Having said that, I’ve already seen a few green aphids on my tulips …. ! Happy Easter, Flighty, hope it’s a good one for you. Caro x
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Caro I meant to give you a mention but forgot. To make amends I’ll do so next time I mention my broad beans in a post. That’s tall, mine only grew about knee high last year and the catalogues list them as being compact. I had hoped to sow some earlier but the ground was really too wet and I think they might have just rotted.
Thanks, and to you too. xx
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Happy Easter and thank you for the broad bean recommendation. Looking forward to giving Karmazyn a try!
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Catherine thanks, and to you too. You’re welcome, and I hope they do well for you. xx
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Here’s to winning the black fly battle! Those broad beans sound very interesting indeed.
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Nikki I hope that they won’t appear this year but if they do… They sure do. xx
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I do hope you have better luck with the beans this year. Good to get the potatoes in too, it’s been far too cold here. xxx
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Snowbird thanks. Let’s hope that it warms up soon so you can get planting as well. xx
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I’ll make a note of those broad beans, I’ve some I started in pots to harden off but I will be sowing more this week. My potatoes are in but otherwise I’m waiting for the weather to warm up a little. The lighter evenings are very welcome though!
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Janet I’ll obviously let all you know how I get on with them. Good for you, I’m hoping to plant more later this week. Me too, and the forecast is looking okay. They are indeed. xx
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I’ve found that my best broad beans were the year that I sowed them in November, they survived frosts & snow and flowered ahead of the blackfly…
This year, I sowed on Feb 2nd and have them covered by a poly tunnel over the raised bed. They look very happy for now…
However, under polythene, one must still water them whilst it rains!
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Sara a plot neighbour reckons he loses about a third of his autumn sown ones which is why I don’t sow any then. It’ll be interesting to see how your’s do this year grown like that. xx
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