Leggy Broad Beans

[veggiechicken]

They look better than mine, Marb

[vixylix]

Mine too - I'm on my 6th sowing and I still can't get them more than 6 inches tall!

[WPG]

In December I'd posted about my spindly November-sown broad beans, and was intending to pull them out (post #3) - however following the advice on here I just cut them back in early January, to around 3 inches tall.

Just wanted to post my thanks for the advice - virtually all of the plants grew back strongly, and I'm now reaping the rewards with masses of beans. I hadn't really thought they'd survive, but apart from a couple of casualties they didn't seem to mind at all.

[Marb67]

The same here, and thanks for reminding me about my old post. Yes, I have had good crops from these plants that did indeed grow stronger. Some points I would like to ask about though.

I am still getting beans, large pods but when opened some of them are missing beans, just small dark dots where they should be. No sign of any pest inside or outside.

Flea beetle started to nibble the tops so pinched them out and destroyed tops.

Now the foliage are going a brown, rusty colour with small holes in the centre of each rusty spot.

Besides all that I am pretty happy with this variety which is sown in Autumn. I will continue with autum sown and perhaps any other variety that would bring better yeilds ?

Interestingly I found a stray b bean plant growing at a roadside half a mile away from home. I dug it out and plated it. It has grown with many more small flowers than my beans but the beans, when fully grown are only 3 to a pod and the pods are about 2 inches long, short and stubby. Masses of flowers but not many of the beans fully formed, a lot small and black. Any idea what they could be ?