Broad Beans: over-wintering advice

[stigoftheplot]

[QUOTE=smallblueplanet;144691]We grew spring bbeans last year and they were delicious, just not enough of them! Never grown them before so have some questions please....just want the most earliest beans possible!

I found the same thing on my first year- just not enough! Last year I put some in to overwinter and from spring sowed about every 2 weeks for the maximum cropping time. I had several varieties and 8 rows. Do put a few in pots or extras at the end with the overwinter ones to fill in any gaps in the rows. I had a lovely crop, ate my fill and put 4 bags in the freezer- it's only me that eats them so that should last me nicely. I also sprayed the plants in spring with strong garlic water-most bugs dont seem to like it. I took 4 plants tips off in 8 rows with blackfly, the rest had hardly any. Next year its a big crop of garlic too!

[Vegetarian Fox]

Thanks for all the comments - if anything it sounds as if I have started mine too early as they might be a little tall for overwintering - but will carry on regardless

On a more important subject - ways to eat them I would recommend if you have a glut next year to make broad bean hummus, just simmer/steam till tender, then remove the outer skin of each bean. Then mash with parmesan and olive oil to create a bright green paste you can have on toast. Good use of the slightly older beans.

VF

[greenlung]

Yum ! Isn't falafel made from broad beans too ?

[moggssue]

Ooohhh ooohhh, I love hummus - never thought of doing it with broadies. Hope I get a glut now!!!!!

[Vegetarian Fox]

Traditional hummus is basically chickpeas and tahini (sesame seas paste) - according to my dear wife

The best thing about the broad bean variety is offering it to friends without telling them what it is - they very rarely guess, and when you do tell them they usually say 'but i don't like broad beans' after having devoured lots

[oneflewover]

My Aquadulce are now just poking through, sown 17/10. Do they need any protection? have I seen in a book, cut lemonade bottles over them like mini cloches? The plot is not in a sheltered position at all.

[Two_Sheds]

Traditional hummus is basically chickpeas and tahini (sesame seas paste)

Compost is a mixture of organic materials which decay into a dark soil-like mass, also called hummus
nice on toast!

http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigati...me-composting/

[Flummery]

Stoke.gov.uk - don't you ever invite me to supper! Write in the margin 3 times - humus, humus, humus!

[Snadger]

I thought there was something funny about the taste, couldn't see what everyone was raving about!!

[SueA]

My Aquadulce are now just poking through, sown 17/10. Do they need any protection? have I seen in a book, cut lemonade bottles over them like mini cloches? The plot is not in a sheltered position at all.

Hi Oneflower, Aquadulce are usually pretty hardy, I think 'The Sutton' are the slightly more tender ones but to be on the safe side if you get a lot of frost etc. where you are you could try either a polythene cloche stretched over some wires or canes or even as you've seen some cut off bottles over each, that might help protect them from slugs & snails as well until they get growing properly.

[oneflewover]

Hi Oneflower, Aquadulce are usually pretty hardy, I think 'The Sutton' are the slightly more tender ones but to be on the safe side if you get a lot of frost etc. where you are you could try either a polythene cloche stretched over some wires or canes or even as you've seen some cut off bottles over each, that might help protect them from slugs & snails as well until they get growing properly.

Hi Sue, thanks for that, as a newbie to growing veg i'm treating all growth as children with all the usual concerns. They look so vulnerable