How To Grow Broad Beans
2011-02-20 at 12:24 pm pshipley
How To Grow Broad Beans
Welcome to our guide on How To Grow Broad Beans. Growing broad beans is a relatively simple procedure. Sometimes known as fava beans, they are grouped according to times they take to mature. There are dwarf (30cm) and tall (1.25m) varieties. They are the first legume family crop to produce in the summer.
Longpod varieties – which contain around 8 `oblong` beans and are very hardy plants. These can be sown in late autumn and will then produce an early crop.
Windsor varieties – have shorter pods with less, large `circular` beans. These produce sweeter beans and larger yields.
Soil For Growing Broad Beans
Broad beans are best grown in an open site with a heavy loam soil which has been manured the previous winter. They do like higher nitrogen levels in the early stages of development but not acid soils.
Sowing And Growing Broad Beans
Sowing is relatively easy, broad beans are grown from large seed and can be planted in situ where they will grow. They are usually sown in double rows alternately spaced (seed in one row against a space in the opposite row), in shallow drills around 15-20cm wide, 7cm deep and around 9cm between each bean.
Germination takes place at above freezing temperatures, and takes 2-3 weeks, rates however vary, so plant a few extras in a space at the end of the row, and if any in the rows do not germinate transplant in one of your spares.
For taller varieties put up canes and strings / wires between to form a support, as they grow, with dwarf varieties be sure to keep the pods when they form off the ground.
Early spring sowings and overwintered crops can be protected with floating mulches or cloches. Earth up overwintered plants.
Keep weeds down, and water in dry periods at a rate of around 20 litres per square metre every week.
When the plants start flowering, pinch out the growing tips, which encourages the pods to form.
Keep an eye out for:-
Blackfly – Tips infested with black insects
Mice – Beans destroyed or holes, nibbled pods.
Birds – Leaves pecked.
Chocolate Spot – Chocolate coloured spots / streaks on leaves and stems.
Foot Rot – Wilting, rotten roots, discoloured bases and leaves.
Root Rot – Rotten roots, blackened.
Harvesting and Storing Broad Beans
Knowing how to grow broad beans and growing broad beans is one thing but you also need to know when and how to harvest your broad beans.
Spring sown broad beans can be harvested at around 12-16 weeks and autumn sowings after 28-35 weeks. Pick plump, swelling pods.
The beans can then be frozen or dried.
Suggested Broad Bean Varieties
Dwarf – `Bonny Lad` or `Sutton”.
Early – `Express`, `Red Epicure` or `Imperial White Longpod`.
Late – `Imperial Green Longpod`, `Hylon` or `Relon`.
Thank you for reading our simple, How To Grow Broad Beans guide. Why not check out our other vegetable growing guides and articles from the menu on the right side of the page. Good luck growing broad beans!