Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Growing broad beans
Until last year I had always bought broad bean seedlings which would arrive in April and grow into tall plants over the following two or three months. Out walking in March one year, I noticed in an allotment that broad beans plants were already two feet high which led me to realise that these beans can be planted outside before the winter. Last October, this is what I did and within a few weeks they had germinated and small plants appeared. I was worried that they might not survive the cold but whatever frosts we had did them no harm at all. They flopped over and looked dead but perked up again as soon as the frosts had gone. This picture, taken four days ago, shows them up to half their full height and already in flower, I reckon we shall be eating them pretty early this year.
Tags for Forum Posts: broad beans, gardening
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by maggie on
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At the allotment we generally plant them in November and choose Aqua Dulce as a good hardy variety. I was not so lucky this year as half of mine succumbed to the snow and frost whereas normally they are sturdy enough. The great thing about overwintered broad beans apart from gaining a march on spring planted ones is that they seem to avoid black fly infestation that completely knackers my spring planted ones, I don't know why this is.
(Handy hint for anyone plagued by black fly on broad beans is to pinch out the tops when they are grown, you can eat the tops, or plant marigolds among the broad bean plants, if all else fails spray some diluted washing up liquid on the stems around the black fly colonies- avoiding any ladybirds.)
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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on
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Hiya Maggie, I wish I could tell you what variety I used but, foolishly, I have disposed of the packet. However, I remember going to the Sunshine Garden centre last Autumn and told one of their helpful assistants that I wanted to plant some broad beans. He directed me towards the back of the store and at the same time relayed my request by walkie-talkie. When I was half way through the store, the seedsman met me with a packet of what he recommended for autumn planting. That's what I call good service.
In fact, I planted 38 beans. Only two failed to germinate and four others are stunted. That's a pretty good strike rate.
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