Which Broad bean?

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Kristen. Cheese is no good.

Buy some cheap toffees (tesco value will do 27p for a bag). Chop them into pieces and ensure they are firmly impaled on your trap spike. Use the lethal sprung nipper traps and carefully set them so that the victim could trigger it with it's whisker.

I had tried various baits but cheap toffee has been consistently good.

[mothhawk]

I really don't like broad beans, so don't grow them.

Last year on my patio I grew Robin Hood,

It was a really beautiful plant with tonnes of purple and black flowers, to be perfectly honest it maybe wasn't the most productive but highly recommended in pots around the house.

This year ill grow it for sure.

But I like the idea of growing my own Robin Hood. I would fancy having a go at Little John and Much the Miller's son too

[mothhawk]

Good tip on the mousetrap, DD, excellent tip on the cucs too

[hamamelis]

I'm having a bean trial this year, but only 4 types: Aquadulche Claudia, The Sutton, Karmazyn and Crimson Flowered.

Apart from Crimson Flowered, which is just plain pretty, and did really well for me last year (aside from the small numbers per pod- I got enough pods to make up for it), they were what was still there at 50p.

Is that a good enough reason?

I'm labelling and recording what was planted where, 'cos last time I did a comparison, the dratted magpies pulled out all the labels...

[veggiechicken]

Oh No..................I don't have Karmazyn

[Two_Sheds]

Red Epicure this year, originally from Snadger

[Snadger]

Oh No..................I don't have Karmazyn

I think broad beans are very promiscuous so God knows what you have!

[veggiechicken]

As long as its not catching

[Snadger]

As long as its not catching

Love to know what the edit was?

[WPG]

This year I'm growing karmazyn, ratio and white windsor.

Karmazyn because I like the look of red beans, though to be honest I don't find they taste any different.
I grew White windsor last year, and they produced huge beans but not tough-skinned
Am trying Ratio for the first time, they're supposed to be a very early bean so I'm hoping for a harvest in June

[Bohobumble]

Kristen. Cheese is no good.

Buy some cheap toffees (tesco value will do 27p for a bag). Chop them into pieces and ensure they are firmly impaled on your trap spike. Use the lethal sprung nipper traps and carefully set them so that the victim could trigger it with it's whisker.

I had tried various baits but cheap toffee has been consistently good.

I use old leftover putty from building the greenhouse; I think they like the linseed oil. I'm wondering if they like Jerusalem Artichoke too as I have a surplus, I'll have to test the theory.

It's a faff to bait them, I got used to those impregnated ones last year, but I don't seem to be able to buy them now. The Red Kites seem to appreciate my efforts at least!

Trying to come back to topic; the sneaky things found 18 individual servings of 2 varieties a while back in my greenhouse, they were obviously doing a taste test because they went for both varieties equally and ate as much as they could - about 2/3 of those sown. They were thoughtful tho, they left no evidence of said snacking as they re-covered the surface after digging them out - took me ages to realise and have a broggle

I have:

The Sutton - leftover from last year, so once they're gone I probably won't replace
Bunyard's Exhibition
Aquadulce (are there more than one with this name?)

Not the most adventurous selections but I'm fairly new to BB's

I'm watching this thread with interest, looking for the tastiest broad bean to grow next year!

[Kristen]

Kristen. Cheese is no good.

yeah, I know .... trouble is that Chocolate, which I would normally use, was nowhere to be found in the house - unusual that!

I like the idea of Toffee (got none of that in the house either ... clearly no one here would take up an invitation to nip round for a cuppa, eh?!!)

I have, however, got the hair trigger nipper traps .. I know they are hair-trigger because 9 times out of 10 I just miss the hair-bit and they frighten the bejesus out of me going off in my hand!

Whatever I have used I have found that they manage to nibble it away without tripping the traps on occasions ... I make up with that by the number of traps though, so "no such thing as a free meal" in that department!

Not the most adventurous selections

I think it bodes well ... I had assumed that most folk would grow one variety, as it turns out there are numerous people growing several, so a report-back on early-ness of first crop date for comparison, and any comments on flavour and disease/blackfly/bug resistance etc. will be useful.

I do find such comparative tests on the forums very subjective, but at the very least they will form a basis for other folk to make a short list, for their own trials, in future years

My prediction is that ask 2 gardeners get 3 opinions will apply though

[Kristen]

P.S. I think some damage might have been caused by Snail/Slug ... the containers are in my boiler room, under lights, so no idea how a molusce would have got in there - I suppose hitched a ride on a pot. Either way, I have now scattered slug pellets on the floor of my boiler room, much to the consternation of the long suffering Mrs K

Gentle reminder to folk to make sure you don't lose precious seedlings / bean-sowings in greenhouse / conservatory etc. to similar predators Very fed up that 100% of my early Beetroot, Cucumber and 50% of my Tomato seedlings have been a succulent baby-leaf salad for some fat-cat slug

[Scarlet]

yeah, I know .... trouble is that Chocolate, which I would normally use, was nowhere to be found in the house - unusual that!

Hmm, sounds like my house. It's my OH's excuse to eat a Mars bar...I need to open one to set my traps

Back to the broadies..does anyone have any tips on avoiding black fly? I start mine off early to avoid the worst of them though I'd love to start a later crop but the blackfly problem always put me off.

[Kristen]

Nip the tops out seems to be the standard answer - not much good for a late crop if the plants have not got to full size when the blackfly arrives?

Soapy water perhaps?