When to Plant Broad Beans in the UK
Few crops shrug off the cold like broad beans, and that toughness gives you more say over sowing dates than almost anything else you'll grow. Depending on where you live, you can get them in the ground in autumn, late winter or spring, and each timing has its own advantages.
Quick answer
There are two main sowing windows. The autumn window is October and November, and it suits gardens with gentle winters and soil that never sits wet for long. In spring, sow outdoors from March until early May, which is the safest option for most gardens. In between, February sowings work well in pots under cover, or outdoors in mild areas with some protection.
Broad bean sowing times at a glance
Autumn (October to November): sow outdoors in mild, sheltered, well-drained gardens. Harvest from around May.
February: sow indoors in pots, or outdoors in mild areas under cloches. Harvest from early summer.
March to April: the main outdoor sowing season for everyone. Harvest through summer.
Early May: last outdoor sowings. Harvest in late summer.
Should you sow broad beans in autumn?
Autumn sowing gets beans into the ground early, so plants develop roots over winter and flower sooner in spring. The payoff is the earliest crop of the year, sometimes ready as soon as May, when there's very little else to pick.
It isn't right for every garden, though. Seeds can rot if the ground stays cold and soggy, winter-hungry mice will happily raid a freshly sown row, and a severe winter can knock plants out altogether.
Autumn sowing is worth a try if:
you garden somewhere mild
your soil drains quickly after rain
your plot is sheltered from cold winds
If that doesn't sound like your plot, hold on until February or March. You'll only be a few weeks behind.
For autumn sowing, pick a variety bred for cold, such as 'Aquadulce Claudia', and keep some fleece or cloches handy for hard frosts.
February: starting broad beans under cover
A February start is a good compromise if your soil is heavy, cold or wet, or if mice are a problem. Give each bean its own little pot or cell, push it about 5 cm into the compost with its dark scar pointing downwards, and stand the tray somewhere cool with plenty of light, like a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.
When they're sturdy young plants, put them outside by day for a week or so to toughen up, and move them into the bed once spring is under way.
Spring sowing
From March, the soil is usually workable and starting to warm, and you can sow straight into the ground. This is the most reliable window, with fewer losses to cold, wet weather.
Only sow when the soil isn't waterlogged or frozen. If you squeeze a handful and it drips, give it another week or two.
Spring-sowing varieties such as 'Witkiem Manita' grow quickly and crop early in the season.
Sow little and often for a longer harvest
Rather than sowing everything at once, sow a short row every three or four weeks from March to early May. Each batch will be ready a little after the last, so you'll be picking fresh, tender beans right through summer instead of dealing with one big glut.
Sowing broad beans in containers
Dwarf broad beans such as 'The Sutton' are ideal for pots and can be sown at the same times as in the ground. A pot around 40 cm across or bigger gives them enough room. Pots are a good way to get an early start, as they can sit in a greenhouse or sheltered corner through the coldest weeks.
For container advice, see growing broad beans in containers
When will my broad beans be ready?
Autumn sowings: ready from around May.
February sowings: follow in early summer.
Spring sowings: crop through summer.
Early May sowings: finish off the season in late summer.
For full growing advice, see how to grow broad beans in the UK.
For picking tips, see when to harvest broad beans
Common questions
Is it too late to sow broad beans in May?
Yes, early May is fine for outdoor sowings, though plants may be more troubled by blackfly and dry weather. After that, it's generally too late for a worthwhile crop.
Can I sow broad beans in October?
Only in mild areas or sheltered gardens with well-drained soil. Pick a variety that copes with frost, such as 'Aquadulce Claudia', and keep fleece handy for bitter nights. In colder or wetter gardens, February or March sowings are the safer bet.
Can I sow broad beans in winter?
Yes, in pots under cover, like an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. In mild areas you can also sow outdoors in February, as long as you cover the seedlings with cloches or fleece.
Which broad bean variety is best for autumn sowing?
For sowing in the cold months, most gardeners reach for 'Aquadulce Claudia', a variety known for surviving British winters. For spring, fast-growing varieties like 'Witkiem Manita' are a better fit.
Sowing times based on RHS guidance.