A short note on the broad bean

Broad beans waiting to be planted out

The broad beans we sowed in the greenhouse a few weeks ago are poised to be planted out. They are the hardest of the legumes, and can be sowed directly into the ground in autumn or spring. 

But we find with our heavy soil and increasingly wet winters, they stand a better chance started off in 3 inch pots of multi purpose compost. 

We shall plant them out in a week or so, on ground that's been enriched with garden compost. They will need staking when the pods form as the fully laden plants tend to flop and get damaged in blustery conditions. 

The one pest they are susceptible to is blackfly, but pinching out the growing tips of the plant once the first set of flowers have set limits the damage. 

Ensure you pick the beans whilst young and sweet, as the pods become more mature the beans turn starchy and, while still edible, they are less appetising. 

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