Which Broad bean?

[veggiechicken]

Kristen's thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...pod_83921.html prompted me to check my Broad bean stash. I thought I had about 4-5 varieties.
In fact, I have 13 :-

Super Aquadulce
Bunyards Exhibition
The Sutton
Crimson Flowered
Stereo
Imperial Green Longpod
Green Windsor
Robin Hood
Schwarzamige
Greeny
Martock
Red Bristow
Extra Precoce de Grano Violetto
+ 2 from the VSP
Witkiem
Dreadnought

SuperAquadulce are already planted out, Red Bristow and Extra Precoce are in modules and I'm going to start a few Imperial Green Longpods - just because Kristen is

Now, I'd like you to tell me what beans you have, which ones you're growing and why - just in case I need to buy or sow something different

[maverick451]

Last year on my patio I grew Robin Hood,

It was a really beautifull plant with tonnes of purple and black flowers, to be perfectly honest it maybe wasnt the most productive but highly reccomended in pots around the house.

This year ill grow it for sure.

[Kristen]

Aquadulce - because I've always sown (for its cold tolerance), but I want to compare its flavour against others so this will be my Control

Also growing (for taste comparison):

Bunyards Exhibition
Masterpiece Green Longpod
and
Imperial Green Longpod - thanks VC

I've grown The Sutton before, but I don't have a windy site so don't need a dwarf variety and I thought it had less yield and made my back ache picking them! so that one is off my list.

[Scarlet]

Aquadulce and bunyards exhibition.....either or, usually good croppers and again because they can be Autumn sown, though to be honest I usually start off in modules in Feb now. I don't think I could tell them apart taste wise.
I tried Crimson flowered a few years ago - very pretty but they weren't that productive for me so I haven't bothered with them since.

[Kristen]

Do folk plant multiple varieties for any particular reason?

Spread the season early/late perhaps?

[veggiechicken]

Don't tell that ogre who runs the VSP but I've just "borrowed" a couple of Witkiem and Dreadnought BBs
You know what I have to do now!
Sow a couple of each of the Beans and see how they perform
Back soon.............

[Kristen]

They'll be needing some protection from mice?

Cheese missing from one of my traps last night ... trap not sprung though ...

[noviceveggrower]

I love my beans as you know VC. I grew Bunyards last year but they did really badly. First lot I started in paper tubes in the bathroom as per usual but nothing appeared so I ended up doing a second lot directly sown into the ground.
This year I have thanks to the seed swap and what I have bought I have got
Dreadnought
Imperial Green Longpod
Some from the seed swap from Chill_grower can't make it out but looks like Greeny?
Stereo
I like a variety because they are quite versatile. Hugh from River Cottage did a broad bean on toast with sliced back bacon that had been fried with onions. Looked very tasty.

[arpoet]

The only problem i see with growing several varieties of anything is remembering what is what. I tried it one year with peas and got ever more confused than normal.

[Alison]

You just need to label

As I think I said on the other thread I grow Crimson Flowered for an early tunnel crop (can isolate easily in there for seed saving and they are sooooooooo pretty). Grown Dreadnaught for main crop the last few years as they're reluable and were available from Kings when I was doing an order . Have tried other varieties and mist have been fine and over wintering too but don't bother as its too much fuss

[Bren In Pots]

Now, I'd like you to tell me what beans you have, which ones you're growing and why - just in case I need to buy or sow something different

This won't be any help but I grow 3 types of beans red ones, white ones and green ones no idea what variety they came to me from Two_Sheds in 2009 and I've saved a few seeds to replant each year.

[Scarlet]

They'll be needing some protection from mice?

Cheese missing from one of my traps last night ... trap not sprung though ...

You are lucky it's just a mouse...I have a very big hole in my GH with a tunnel

[bario1]

I only grow 'Wizard' (technically a field bean) as it's compact, has masses of pods on each plant, loads of beans in each pod, and they keep on the plants well instead of growing massive and woody.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks everyone. I now have 48 more broad beans sown, than I did this morning
4 beans of 12 varieties!

I blame Kristen

[Kristen]

I blame Kristen

Me too!