When to grow broad beans

Up my allotment a couple of people have broad beans already in the ground is that too early.I have some seeds in small pots about sixteen I think which are just starting to sprout.Will probably be about a month before they are ready to plant out.I wondered what others think;Today I tidied up around the rhubarb plant and spread some well rotted manure around it will that be ok and it looks to be starting to grow already.

 

I am considering 'branching out' in to edible gardening this year. I wanted to start with something relatively simple. Would you recommend broad beans?

 

@Paul Blackburn and @JeffNev you can sow broad beans now if they are a winter variety like Aquadulce Claudia as they have been bred to withstand some of the winter temperatures.

It will also depend on where you are in the British Isles as to what you can get started early because if you are down in Cornwall or Somerset you might be able to get things started earlier.We have been down to Minehead for xmas other years and have seen displays of daffodils in full flower on Xmas day

These are my winter broad beans that I sowed a month ago and they have been covered with insect netting stuff to protect them from any servere frosts we might get over the next few months.I dare not uncover them as I know the rabbits and Wood Pigeons will strip the lot

 

Broad beans starting to crop nicely now:



Variety 'De Monica', btw.