Broad bean plant help

[Catsonskis]

Hi all, this is so bloomin random, I’m sorry.

my daughter brought home from nursery a broadbean plant she had planted in a tiny pot. We’ve been watering it and it’s on our windowsill. The stem is now a foot tall and bending over/falling over. It’s got 8 big leaves on it but no flower or anything.

at what point do we plant it outside? And in what? And does it need a cane or something to climb up?

similarly she’s brought home a tomato plant (only an inch tall) and sweet peas (only the tiniest shoots emerging so far) and she really likes them and wants to see them grow but we are not green fingered!

plant it out asap, and add a cane to support it.

Broad beans are pretty tough, it can go outside now. I would acclimatise it over a few days so it doesn't get too shocked. Out in the day, in at night for a few days, then plant. B Beans don't often need propping up but it sounds like yours has got a bit spindly so just give it a cane and tie it in gently to support it, when you plant it. It will flower then get some beans on. broad beans from the plant taste totally different and are far nicer, you will love it. It may get blackfly at the top but don't worry too much, just pinch the top off if that happens.

Sweet peas are easy, when they are about four sets of leaves high, plant them with a cane to scramble up, tie them in regularly. They can go outside, in a sunny spot. You'll get lots of lovely flowers. You could even give them a feed with some seaweed fertilizer every week once the first flowers appear, but you don't have to. They will grow very tall, poss over 7 foot, which will delight your daughter. Just make sure they are watered regularly, they use lots of energy growing so tall.

Tomatoes are slightly more fiddly. Keep them indoors until it's warm outside. If you have a very sunny spot on a terrace they can go there in a pot. It has to be very warm for the fruit to ripen, and get lots of sun. They also need lots of nutrition. Either you can plant them into a tomato growbag (from the garden centre) or a deep flowerpot. Give them a cane to grow up and pinch out the sideshoots as they grow. Gardener's World website has vids on how to do this. It's easy one you know how, your daughter will love doing it. Again, toms need a regular/ weekly nutritional feed (I use a liquid seaweed) and regular watering.

Hope this helps!

For about a fortnight, take it out during the warm part of the day and bring it back in at night. It’s been growing in the warmth of indoors, you need to acclimatise it to the lower outdoor temperatures.

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