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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jayb on May 05, 2009, 12:24:35
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Can anyone identify this please? At the moment its about 1' high and I've no idea what this is, I was given the seed but no indication of what it may be other than its edible!
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broad bean?
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Broad bean.
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Sorry should have added seed is small about the size of a small cow pea but flatter. Leaves and flowers are much smaller than B bean about a 1/3 of the size. Flower is pure cream colour.
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Any ideas anyone?
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Difficult to see from the photo, but the flower shape looks very much like a legume and the leaf is very B. Bean-like.
Could it be an older variety?
You'll have to grow it on and let us all know the result!
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Hi Jayb
was it one of mine?
do you remember what the seed colour was?
lbb :)
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I agree the photo looks like a b bean, but I don't think it is. I'll see if I can get a better shot of it. I'll definitely grow them out (Poor things had got a bit pot bound but I'm hoping they will be fine now they have been potted on/out)
Hi Lbb, no seeds were from elsewhere, on hols last year a very kindly chap gave me a few different seeds to try but unfortunately no info. Seeds were a light brown colour no other markings.
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on hols last year a very kindly chap gave me a few different seeds to try but unfortunately no info.
Nice chap called Jack? Said they grew too big for his garden?
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There is a very old Broad Bean variety called Martock which are about the size you describe... :-\
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I'll keep you posted Unwashed, but hopfully not as the are in my poly! ;D
I checked out Martock, would have been excited if it was but photo's and descriptions are different :( Only three leaves from each stem not the same as b beanies.
Perhaps a weed or something toxic!!!!
Here are a few more photies if it helps, Second two are held up against broad beans
[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]
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:-\
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Just looks like some kind of field bean (http://www.ukagriculture.com/crops/field_beans_uk.cfm), they grow loads around where I live.
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If its of interest or if anyone knows different, I think I've tracked this down to Fenugreek!
Thanks to a recent book purchase 'Asian Vegetables' which had a photo of it growing. Also its developed a wonderful curry smell which has filled the poly (totally confused at first because I thought I was hallucinating if you can hallucinate smells!)
I've left it go to seed as I only had a few plants, so hopefully enough seed for next year and a few spare. It does smell gorgeous, just like a curry plant
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Can be grown as a green manure... :)
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That's good to know, it will only take me a few more seasons to produce enough seed! but its all fun ;D I'll definitely grow it again for the aroma though and I'd best look up a few recipes too!
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ah fenugreek, the seed can be used to freshen breath, or to help lactating mums produce more milk and it also helps to settle an upset tummy, there are many more culinary and herbal uses. lucky you getting some to grow. can it only be grown under cover?
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Apparently it can be grown May to August in fertile well drained soil in a sunny spot. I should think it could be grown in a pot. Leaves are at their best before flowering/seed setting. :)
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Apparently it can be grown May to August in fertile well drained soil in a sunny spot. I should think it could be grown in a pot. Leaves are at their best before flowering/seed setting. :)
tah :)
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That's good to know, it will only take me a few more seasons to produce enough seed! but its all fun ;D I'll definitely grow it again for the aroma though and I'd best look up a few recipes too!
I thought it looked familiar, but couldn't put my finger on it! I've seen it for sale fresh in Tooting Asian shops, and I have some dried fenugreek, which I use often - it's very useful.
It adds a meaty, 'filling' sort of aroma and flavour to any cooking. You can add a pinch to bread if you make bread. Nice with potatoes.
I have a recipe for potatoes and fenugreek, a south Indian recipe. Would you like it? I can look it up it's on a scrap of paper somewhere... :)
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And I've just remembered the German name is Bohnenkraut, which means bean herb - makes sense when you think everyone mistook it for a broadbean! I always assumed that meant it tasted nice with beans!
Doh - now I'v just remembered that's rubbish. Bohnenkraut is something else - sorry I got muddled! ::)
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oops :o just as well I don't speak German!
Yum would love your recipe if not too much trouble :)
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Yum would love your recipe if not too much trouble :)
me too! Always on the lookout for recipies :D
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Bohnenkraut
Isn't that our Summer Savoury? :-\
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If anyone is interested in growing fenugreek cheaply, I buy small bags of fenugreek seeds from Asian shops and soak the seeds overnight before sowing and they come up beautifully.
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Good idea Tic. will give it a go and see what the results are like
1066
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I don't think it's fenugreek. I think fenugreek just has three leaflets and it doesn't have the black spodges on the flowers. I think it's a field bean - might be a broad bean, or might be one of the beans grown for cattle feed.
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Unwashed, the black splodge flowers are on the broad beans that are next to 'mystery' plant for comparison purposes. It looks very much like fenugreek to me -the seeds I use have a sort of crease almost along the whole length on one side - does that sound familiar Jayb?
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Yes funny sort of seeds, not fully ripe yet but here is a photo
[attachment=1]
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yep those are definately fenugreek seeds compare them with the dried stuff
http://www.foodsorganic.net/images/Fenugreek.jpg (http://www.foodsorganic.net/images/Fenugreek.jpg)
http://www.howtotuts.com/demos/gallery/d/47-1/fenugreek_seeds.jpg (http://www.howtotuts.com/demos/gallery/d/47-1/fenugreek_seeds.jpg)
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D'oh! Thanks tlc. Yes, it's fenugreek.
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Bohnenkraut
Isn't that our Summer Savoury? :-\
Yes it is savoury! Apparently it's good with beans. Have you tried it with beans?
I'm going to get that recipe now...
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potatoes and fenugreek
1/2kg potatoes
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup fenugreek
lime-sized ball of tamarind (or use something else sour eg couple spoons lemon juice or a spoon vinegar)
1tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
chilli - as much as you like
2 tomatoes
3 tbsp oil
salt
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- peel and cube potatoes, boil them
- splutter mustard in oil, add onion and fry till soft
- add potato cubes and fry till light brown
- add all the powdered spices, fry for a minute
- add tamarind (or other sour flavour), chopped tomato and salt
- simmer till becomes thick gravy
- add fenugreek at the end. Once it's soft - it's ready to serve.
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Yes we use it with the Broad Beans... and as companion with them to keep the blackfly down... that seems to work too. Winter Savoury is a much easier plant though... :)
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Thanks for the recipie PicgeonSeed :)
I have dried methi (fenugreek) leaves, but am looking forward to growing some fresh next year :)
I've grown summer savoury with my broad beans this year, and it seemed to help with the blackfly/aphid problem, but only with the earlies (autumn sown) :-\