broad beans help for newbie

[crops in pots]

Hi, I'm new to growing this is my first time. I have Sutton broad beans in pots that are covered in flowers which are now starting to die but with no evidence of pods, any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

[LolaLou]

You need bees (or any pollinating insects). I had the same on some overly early broad bean plants last month - all the flowers came, and then died off again. They have since had a huge growing spout and lots more flowers and this time lots of little beans. Do you have any flowers (or able to buy some flowering bedding flowers) that you can put in the pot to attract the bees? Also, sometimes the flowers die off and it looks like nothing is happening but when you give the dead petals a tug, there is a tiny little bean pod hidden inside.

[crops in pots]

Lots of bees on choisya and ceanothus nearby. I am worried that maybe I have killed the flowers by overwatering.

[rustylady]

It's unlikely that you have killed the flowers by overwatering - if you've been overwatering the plants themselves would be showing signs of stress. Are they in pots or in open ground? When the beans first set they are really tiny - takes a while for them to actually look like beans.

[crops in pots]

They are in pots, everything is, I don't have room in the garden for beds. Also its safer in pots, I have a springer spaniel that enjoys foraging!

[Mick O]

I have had same problem with early flowers dropping off most years but later flowers should set beans. Have just looked at mine in garden and some flowers have dropped and some have set. Noticed more bees the last few days with warmer weather and more blossom and flowers out in nearby gardens. This hopefully will help solve problem.
Mick

[Two_Sheds]

You're just being impatient. You won't see beans until the flowers have withered; and you don't need bees for pollination, but they do increase the yield

[crops in pots]

Thanks for all the advice - it's hard not to be impatient when you're waiting for your first crop!