Too late for Broad Beans?

[veggiemo]

Hi,

Does anyone know if Broad Beans sown now indoors and then planted out will still produce a reasonable crop? I grow loads of BB's and also cut the plants down when they have finished cropping so that they produce another flush later in the year. Is there a valid reason for not sowing after the end of April, or is it just "traditional"?

Many thanks for any responses
Mo

[Worldor]

What do you mean by cut the plants down? After harvesting do you cut off at ground level or leave some green there. My first year with them.

[veggiemo]

Hi Worldor,

Yes, I cut them down a few inches above above ground level, just above a set of sprouting leaves. In a few weeks they start producing new stems at those points and these will flower and crop again about a month later.

Kind regards,
Mo

[Squirrel]

What a brilliant idea! Will try that this year!

[Worldor]

Me too. Thanks Mo.

[SueA]

Mo , I would think it's fine to sow broad beans now as they are fast growers, I've got some that have just germinated & I'm going to plant them out in the next week or so. You just might not have time to cut them down & get a second crop as you usually do- never tried that myself but will try this year with some I already have outside.

[veggiemo]

Thanks for that Sue.

Reason these will be so late is that my daughter has just been allocated an allotment and I haven't managed to get a decent bed ready for the BB's yet. The Autumn sown Aqua Dulce in my own garden are podding already and I've got another 3 lots growing there but wanted to get some in for her this year. I think I will give it a go and sow a load today in pots with a bit of heat as they usually germiinate that way "in the blink of an eye", then, with a bit of luck and a following wind I should have a nice home ready for them in a week or so!

Weather is brilliant down here in East Sussex despite all the weather forecasts! Time to go and do a few of the million jobs on the patch...

Cheers

Mo

[JennieAtkinson]

How far apart to you plant the broad beans. Mine are just ready for planting, but I am putting them inside the polytunnel. Might try a couple outside to see if they survive.

[veggiemo]

Hi Jennie,
I plant mine about 12" apart in double or somteimes "staggered" rows about 9" apart. I only plant more than one double row if there is good access from eiter side for harvesting (i.e. in a 4ft wide raised bed).

Hope this helps.

Mo

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks for that Mo. Do you stake yours? Not sure how high they will grow.

[veggiemo]

Jennie,

Yes, unless you grow one of the "dwarf" varieties (I think "The Sutton" is one which only grows about a foot tall), most BB's are 3-4 foot tall. If they are grown in the double or staggered rows they tend to support each other on the inside (if you see what I mean) but still need something to keep the outsides of the rows from falling over.

The best way is to have canes (or whatever is to hand) which are at least 5 foot tall at either end of each row.... a double row would have two at each end. As the plants start to grow, start winding string around the outside so that the beans are enclosed. I tend to wind string at about 6" high intervals as they grow rather than doing it all at the beginning as it is easier to do any initial weeding that way. Once the beans get to about 2 foot tall they tend to shade out any weeds, especially if you mulch with grass clippings as I do.

I try to use softish string or jute stuff rather than the plastic type as this doesn't bite into the stems. I try to be as gentle with my plants as I can! Also, if your rows are very long you might want to put some extra pairs of canes along the length or the string will sag.

The BB's also appreciate a bit of liquid manure or similar and as much water as you can give them once they start flowering.

Don't know what it has been like today in your neck of the woods but down here in the "soft South" its been blowing a gale. I went out and put a barrrier of enviromesh round one lot of BB's earlier as they were really being bashed about. I was also a tad worried that the greenhouse might blow out its glass because it was quite a hot afternoon and the automatic openers were doing their job rather too well!

Have you tried the very young BB's just steamed in their pods? At about 2-3" long with a dollop of butter they are absolutely scrummy.

Sorry.... been going on a bit by the looks of it.

Regards,

Mo

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks for that Mo - will try supporting as you describe.

I'm not really a broad bean eater, mainly because the ones sold in the shops here are so awful. But thought I would give them a try. Looking forward to them!

Not too windy up here at the moment, very sunny today and 15 degrees. I am just getting a greenhouse built and had to decide not to go for automatic vents, in case they opened during a gale!

[adam connor]

I have just put 4 th lot in. First two lots eaten by slugs, 3rd successfully germinated and 4 inches high and 4th now in, Also have some dwarfs whihc may chuck in aspare bed. comments re support and cutting down very helpful