Sowing Broad Beans and Peas During August for Early Crops

August isn’t just for harvesting—planting broad beans and (in mild areas) hardy peas now is a simple way to get the earliest, sweetest pods next spring. With the soil still warm and space opening up as summer crops finish, your August sowing fills the garden, builds soil health, and guarantees a jump-start on next year’s veg.

Why Sow in August?

• Ultra-Early Harvests: Overwintered plants burst into growth in spring, cropping 3–6 weeks before spring sowings.
• Sturdy, Storm-Proof Plants: Stronger roots survive winter and need less support.
• Fewer Pests: Early beans often escape blackfly and pea moth damage.
• Efficient Bed Use: Turn finished summer gaps into productive autumn green.

Best Varieties for Autumn Sowing

Broad beans:

• ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (the classic overwinter bean)
• ‘Super Aquadulce’
• ‘The Sutton’ (compact)

Peas (mild regions or sheltered spots):

• ‘Meteor’
• ‘Douce Provence’
• ‘Kelvedon Wonder’

How to Sow Broad Beans in August

1. Choose a sheltered, well-drained bed.
2. Prepare the soil: Weed, fork over and add some compost.
3. Sow the seeds:
   • 5cm deep, 20–25cm apart in double staggered rows, 60cm between pairs of rows.
   • Set seeds on their edge for best sprouting.
4. Water well to settle the soil.
5. Label the row and cover with netting or twiggy sticks to protect against birds and mice.

How to Sow Peas in August

1. Suitable for mild climates/outdoor polytunnels:
   • Use large pots or direct-sow in double rows.
2. Trench 3–5cm deep, seeds 5cm apart.
3. Water and support:
   • Install pea sticks or mesh for tendrils as they grow.
4. Protect with fleece or mesh if pigeons are a pest.

Ongoing Care

• Weed as plants establish—don’t let competition crowd seedlings.
• Slugs and pigeons love new shoots: Net beds until strong.
• Mulch in late autumn with straw/compost: Insulates roots and keeps weeds down.
• In cold zones, use a fleece/cloche over winter for added protection.

Harvest Timeline

• Broad Beans: Pick from late May—fantastically sweet and early.
• Peas: Harvest pods in late May/early June, well before most other crops.

Pro Tips

• In very cold areas, delay sowing to early autumn or sow in modules under cover for transplanting.
• After cropping, cut plants at ground level—roots enrich the soil with nitrogen for the next crops.

Give your garden a running start: a little work now means meals of homegrown pods before most gardeners have even sown their first seeds next year!