Starting Broad Beans in Pots

Afternoon all.

I have sow broad beans in my schedule for next week, but the bed that will be early beans and peas still has pumpkins growing in it that may still produce harvestable fruit. Normally I'd give it another week to see how the pumpkins do, but I'm going to be away for almost three weeks, so I'm thinking of sowing them now in big pots and then transplanting maybe in November. 

In general. I've found pot-sown broadies do less well, but last year we had torrential rain from mid October up until December so it was impossible to work the ground (heavy, very heavy clay!) and I missed the boat with autumn sown broadies. Spring sown never do so well.

What to do?!!

Afternoon all.

I have sow broad beans in my schedule for next week, but the bed that will be early beans and peas still has pumpkins growing in it that may still produce harvestable fruit. Normally I'd give it another week to see how the pumpkins do, but I'm going to be away for almost three weeks, so I'm thinking of sowing them now in big pots and then transplanting maybe in November. 

In general. I've found pot-sown broadies do less well, but last year we had torrential rain from mid October up until December so it was impossible to work the ground (heavy, very heavy clay!) and I missed the boat with autumn sown broadies. Spring sown never do so well.

What to do?!!

With your commitments elsewhere PP you haven't got much choice.  If you have enough seed, hedge your bets , sow some BBs before you leave in  pots, with the plan to sow some more on your return if/when the beds are free and hopefully manageable. Worst case you can spring  sow, hopefully.   Leaving the garden for 3 weeks must be a wrench with so much to do.

Thanks JJB - that's kind of what I'd decided.

Leaving th garden is a pain - so much is still maturing - but my mum is finally able to move house so it can't be helped and I'm so pleased for her My neighbours will eat what they fancy so it won't go to waste.

I sowed most in pots last year but also put some seeds in the ground when the plants were planted out. TBH I didn't see a lot of difference so will not be sowing/planting until next year.

A quick update on this - I sowed two large pots each of two varieties the first week in October and they were through when we got back three weeks later. Today I planted out ten each of Masterpiece & Grano Violetto which were a really good size.
I also sowed a row of each the day after we came back and they're just starting to push through, so all in all it has worked out well, thanks largely to a very mild autumn (we're still harvesting outdoor courgettes & peppers).
Thanks all for your input.

Glad it worked for you PP, you'll be doing the same next year now.
I sowed some in the GH a couple of weeks ago but they're only just breaking the soil. Must start some more.

Ok I’m now going to contradict myself and sow some this weekend, reasons being:-

After sorting my seeds I found some from 2017, will sow these now, if they do not germinate I still have time next year

Ditto regards self-saved seeds, never saved any before!