Grow Your Own Broad Beans Belfast
Grow Your Own Broad Beans
Preparation
Broad beans will grow reasonably well in most soils, but prefer a well drained, rich bed. Choose a sheltered, sunny position and turn the soil over well, adding manure if the soil needs it. You can begin sowing as early as October, but be aware of frosts as this will make short work of destroying your seeds. Use polythene or cloches if very cold weather is likely. Make sure you have enough room to space out your plants, as good airflow between them is essential for stopping fungal infections. Good autumn sowing varieties include Aquadulce Claudia and Imperial Green Longpod.
Sowing
As mentioned above, broad bean plants need space between them if you want the best results. Sow single beans 5-6cm deep and 15cm apart. If you want to sow in two rows, stagger the beans to maximise the space between plants without taking up excessive space in your bed. Sowing in October could mean a good crop as early as May. However, with UK weather, June is more likely.
Maintaining your crop
As your plants grow, you will need to support them with canes. Without support, the fragile stems and pods could easily be broken. Create a "wigwam" of three bamboo canes and push the bottom ends well into the soil. The plants can then be tied loosely to the frame as they grow. If you live in a particularly windy area, dwarf varieties might be a better option. These need less space, less support and obviously do not grow as high.
Harvesting
Harvest as soon as beans are ripe, working from the bottom up. Beans at 1-2cm thick are perfect for eating whole, or you can leave the pods on the stem until they open, revealing perfectly ripe beans inside. You should continue to pick the beans frequently. Broad beans freeze very well and can be kept for some time in this way. Freeze them soon after picking, inside a sealed plastic bag. You can also leave the beans to dry completely, then store in an airtight container to be sown the following year.
When your plants have finished producing beans, cut off the stems and dig the roots back into the soil. They will release much needed nitrogen into the soil ready for the following season.