| Other names: |
Vicia faba |
| Appearance/taste: |
Grown in fat waxy pods on rigid and erect plants that also produce
dense flowers; the bean is the seed eaten from inside and has a thick
texture that tastes floury |
| Popular varieties: |
The Sutton AGM & Aquadulce Claudia AGM |
| Interesting fact: |
History suggests that the growing of broad beans goes back to 6000
BC |
| Nutritional value: |
Rich in protein, high in riboflavin (vitamin B) and vitamin C |
| When to grow: |
Seed
directly into the ground in either early spring or autumn |
| Likes: |
A sunny or sheltered site with well drained soil; warm soil using
polythene
covering, particularly important if planting in autumn; regular watering;
taller plants or those exposed to windy conditions like support with
stakes or canes; |
| Dislikes: |
Weevils
in early spring; aphids |
| Watch out for: |
Sight of aphids or semi-circular notches in the pods that indicate
the presence of weevils; chocolate or orange spots that indicate fungal
disease. |
| Harvest time: |
Early summer for spring planting; late spring for autumn planting;
|
| Cooking tips: |
Eat raw or cooked when the beans are young and fresh. |
| > |
These are the hardiest type of beans to grow. Young
plants can survive being outside all winter as long as they are not
attacked by birds and mice. Cover with anti-bird
netting or fleece
. Beans sown in the autumn and left to grow outside or in pots
in cold
frames will give the earliest crop. |
| > |
Seeds
can also be sown in spring for a late spring/early summer crop. Plant
seeds about 3cm (1.2”) deep and about 23cm (9”) apart.
Rows should be 23cm (9”) apart. |
| > |
Tall growing varieties will need staking. Put posts at either end
of the row and stretch string between them. Shorter varieties can
be supported by twigs. |
| > |
Broad Beans like good, heavy soils but it must not be waterlogged.
Do not grow broad beans in the same spot two years running as it can
cause a build up of diseases in the soil. Choose a sunny spot. Add
some fertiliser
about one week before sowing. |
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The biggest problem with broad beans are insects which gather on
the growing tips of the plants. If this happens, the only solution
is to break off the growing tip - with its insects - and destroy it.
We would encourage the use of biological
pest control to fend off aphids and weevils as it is much better
to be proactive than reactive. |
| > |
The black and white flowers are fragrant and very pretty. The pods
which follow the flowers may be short and broad or long and narrow. |
| > |
Pick broad beans when they are the size of a little finger. The
scar on the bean's edge should be white or green. If the beans are
left unpicked, the skins become leathery and tough. |
| > |
When harvesting is complete, dig the plants into the soil. This
will provide the soil with a rich, nutritious green manure. |
