When to plant Broad Beans in Bristol

Vicia faba

Broad Bean
Broad Bean · Vicia faba

A hardy, reliable crop for UK gardens, broad beans do well in open ground and cope with cool weather better than most beans. Sow in autumn for an earlier crop or from late winter into spring for a main harvest, then pick pods young and often for the best flavour.

100 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to Bristol · last frost ≈ 19 Apr

Sow outdoors March to April, plant out April to May, harvest June to September. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds

    8 Mar to 19 Apr Optional · repeat every 3 weeks

    Sow a batch every 21 days through 8th March - 19th April, either direct or in deep modules. Sow deep, keep the soil just moist, and protect seeds and seedlings from mice and pigeons.

  2. 02

    Set Up Support

    22 Mar to 10 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Put stakes and string in from 22nd March, before each batch grows tall. Run string around the outside of the row at several heights so the stems cannot fall outwards.

  3. 03

    Plant Out Seedlings

    5 Apr to 31 May

    If the beans were started in modules, harden each batch off and plant it out around 5th April - 31st May. Skip this step for direct-sown rows. Space plants apart, with between double rows, then water them in.

  4. 04

    Water Well

    17 May to 17 Aug Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    Water in dry spells through 17th May - 17th August, especially when flowers open and pods start to swell. Soak the soil well rather than watering little and often.

    • Once the lowest flowers have formed small pods, pinch out the soft growing tip of each plant. This can reduce blackfly on the new growth.

  5. 05

    Harvest Pods

    21 Jun to 6 Sept Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 3 days

    After each sowing, pick pods through 21st June - 6th September while they are well filled but still tender. Harvest every few days. The beans are past their best once the scar on each seed turns dark.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Broad Bean to consider

Aquadulce Claudia

A hardy, reliable variety for autumn or spring sowing, with long pods and good winter resilience.

The Sutton

A compact dwarf variety that suits smaller plots and containers, with neat plants and a useful early crop.

Imperial Green Longpod

A popular tall variety with long pods and good yields, best with proper support.

Broad Bean guides by town

See how Broad Bean timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.