Gardeners urged to plant this 1 vegetable in September to reap early benefits

Summer has come to an end, meaning it is time to get the autumn planting ready to enjoy beautiful spring crops. While there are plenty of plants out there you can grow throughout the autumn and winter time, gardeners have been recommended to grow this particular vegetable to enjoy a successful spring harvest.

Gardeners should make the most out the September month and start sowing broad beans, according to experts. By doing so, you will save yourself some precious time in the spring.

According to BBC Gardeners' World "by sowing broad beans in autumn you can save time on spring planting".

The website added: "The broad beans are quick to establish before temperatures fall, when they enter dormancy, but resume growth again as soon as temperatures increase again in spring."

However, when planting the vegetables, it is important to cover them with fleece when the weather gets colder, as broad bean leaves can be scorched by frost.

For those in the south of the country, the gardening experts suggest waiting until the end of the month to sow them, "as otherwise they may grow too tall and even start to flower before temperatures drop" making it more difficult to protect from frost.

To sow broad beans outside, you must fork plenty of compost or manure into the planting area and then rake the surface to a "fine, crumbly texture".

Then, mark out 5cm deep drills with 20cm between each. Alternatively you can sow the seeds as double rows at 60cm apart.

The seeds should then be sown 5cm deep and covered with soil, firm down and watered in well, and in cases of cold weather, make sure to cover them well with horitcultural fleece or cloches.

Make sure you are watering your crops regulary once you see flowers appear, and hoeing between the rows to keep weeds down.

BBC Gardeners' World added: "Pinching out the growing tips as soon as the flowers appear will help to prevent attack of backfly."