Broad Beans

After my first batch of Broad Beans (kept in the garage) were eaten by mice before they even germinated, I have "hatched" a second batch indoors. Due to the higher temperature, they germinated much quicker. It took about a week. I sowed 24 seeds and 23 of them have come up. Maybe the last one will eventually germinate too?

My two varieties are "Masterpiece Green Longpod" and "De Monica". I am toying with the idea of sowing a few of the "Stereo" beans I have left over from last year, as a second crop. I'm still not sure this is a good idea, because as soon as the BBs finish I normally plant the PSB - without which I can not live!

The plants are looking really good - strong and erect. I don't want them to go leggy and weak, so I have now put them outside in the garden. They will remain in their pots for another week or 10 days and then I will plant them in one of the raised beds.

 I intend to plant each pair as if it were one plant, and provide them with a stake (a bamboo cane, probably) for support. This will stop then flopping all over the place and hopefully will make their flowers that much more accessible to the Bumble Bees so necessary for pollination.
For the time being, they are protected from the worst of the weather by one of my tunnel cloches. This arrangement will provide plenty of light and ventilation, whilst shielding the plants from heavy rain and strong wind which could easily damage them.