Broad Beans - am I too late

[Hippychick]

I promised my husband I'd grow him some broad beans this year, a personal loathing I have to admit!, but we have only just got our cold frame.  We lost a load of beans last year so am keen to raise the plants in pots then transplant them.  Am I too late or do I still have time?  Everyone here seems to have had their's sown for a couple of weeks. ???

[Hippychick]

[Curryandchips]

Go ahead and plant !

Most people plant broad beans early because they are hardy plants and early plantings are more likely to miss blackfly. Also the crops can be cleared for late summer sowings, eg winter spinach, or over winter onions etc.

However, having established an argument for early plantings does not mean you have to follow that rule. Enjoy doing your own thing !  :D

[sandersj89]

No, not too late but get a shake on if you can. Later sowings suffer more from black fly and they dont like hot temperatures so much.

Choose a variety such as Masterpiece Long Pod.

HTH

Jerry

[Svea]

also, bung them straight into the beds, rather than pots indoors or the frame. no point to it for the broad beans, it is plenty warm enough for them already

[flowerlady]

A great 'sacrificial' plant to have around them are marigolds, calendula, they will attract the blackfly away - you hope  ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Blackfly look awful on the tips but they don't actually seem to do the plants much harm; I'm much more worried about poor pollination. if you're worried you can discourage the fly by eating the tips.

[Hippychick]

Sorry Robert, being incredibly thick here.  Eat the tips of the beans, can you eat the pods then?

[sandersj89]

Robert is refering to the tips of the plants, the upper most leaves at the top.

These can be picked and them steamed and serves with lots of black pepper and butter.

Jerry

[cleo]

Not too late at all.

[euronerd]

Hippy, the pods up to about 3" long are delicious sautéed in butter or ghee, as are the tops. Do try them. In my opinion they are better then the fully grown bean. :)

Geoff.

[Hippychick]

I'll give that a try Geoff, as I really don't like them the usual way, they're my husband's passion really, but I have to feed us all so I can't just grow what I like I guess!!

Still on the same beans, when they grow to full size are they self supporting?

[carloso]

its not to late everyone has kjust planted theres on our allotments, Some did plant before xmas

Its worth a try at least


carl

[euronerd]

Self supporting no Hippy, but I just plant them in a block, then wind some string round a cane at each corner to support the outer ones like below. They will support the middle ones.

Geoff.

[Hippychick]

Thanks for all your help.  Armed with all this info I'm booking my weekend slot with my boys to plant the beans ;D