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Hi Gadget... it can speed up germination if you soak them in tepid water for a few hours before planting.... you will see them swell, which they do slowly in the ground before germinating. You might need to cover them to stop mice stealing the beans... :)
Thanks peeps, I did read somewhere that if you cut the bottoms of small bottles of water and take the lid off, these act like mini cold frames? another though if you pushed them into the ground then the mices will have a harder job, will keep you infomred on that one. :)
I maintain that mice do not steal pre-chitted broad bean (and pea) seeds. I always soak mine and keep in damp paper until they show a root, then plant them. Neighbours on allotment site have had mice steal their beans but it has never happened to me. Something about the taste, smell, lack of?Had a conversation about it only today - neighbour said "no point in sowing BB seeds, mice take them, took mine last year, left lots of neat little holes" but under our noses were my rows of healthy plants, sown in October and November. The only gaps were those killed by frost and snow, not many, and filled by more pre-chitted seeds (not showing yet, admittedly, but no little holes dug by mice).