10 Top Tips For Growing Broad Beans

These delicious, tender beans make a great addition to any edible garden or allotment. If you’re in need of some pointers, GYO have some great advice on cultivating this popular veg.

1. You can sow directly into the soil from November, but don’t worry if you have missed this time slot, as you can still sow in February ready to harvest in May. The soil you plant in should be deeply dug and well-drained.

2. Sow your seeds 5-7cm deep and 15-22cm apart – depending on the cultivar. If you’ve chosen to work on open ground, you will want to sow in single rows 45cm apart or double rows (22cm apart) with 60cm between each double line.

3. We recommend that you sow a few extra seeds at the end of each row to produce plants that can fill any gaps if the seeds fail to germinate.

4. Hoe the ground regularly to prevent weeds from taking over and competing with your plants for water, light and nutrients in the soil.

5. Pinch out the top 7cm of the plant once the first beans start to form; this will encourage fruit set and reduce problems such as blackfly.

6. Watering the beans during dry spells will increase harvests and encourage healthy growth.

7. Weather-wise, frost and snow can cause damage to young autumn-sown plants, whereas rain can create issues such as rotting. Don’t worry too much, however, as you can protect your beans with fleece during any cold snaps.

8. These crops usually mature in three to four months although autumn and winter-sown crops may take a little longer. You’ll know that the broad beans are ready for harvest once the pods have begun to visibly swell inside.

9. Harvest plants in stages between May and July, starting with the lowest pod first as small beans are sweeter and more tender than the larger ones – although just as delicious.

10. The best way to harvest the beans is to twist the pod and gently pull out the stem until it is completely detached from the plant.

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