I have loads of French/runner beans to plant when the time comes, but am thinking I need some broad beans too. Any recommendations, as to reliability, taste, length of cropping period?
Monty Don recommends 'Sutton' for flavour and 'Bunyards Exhibition' as a 'reliable cropper'. What do you chaps think?
Criteria are that I may find I'm pushed for space; the garden is well-protected from wind, and reasonably sunny; this area is famously damp in climate, though the garden is fairly well-draining I think, no sign of bogginess. Soil is light clay.
I have a few Aguadulce from Robert Brenchley to get me started. :)
Red Epicure is our favourite for taste... ;D
I'm trying Masterpiece Green Longpod this year.
I don't need the whole packet so if you want say 20 seeds then please PM me!
Aw, Flighty, you're so kind! Will pm you. :)
Red Epicure does sounds interesting, that was the 3rd variety Monty Don recommended, on aesthetic grounds! I have to say, his book 'The Complete Gardener' is pretty good, though I don't really like his writing style, he's a bit pompous. And how's that for an arrogant title? :D
Well at least it's not "The Great Gardener" :-X
As a change from the more famous varieties, we grew some Dreadnought last year, and they were very productive indeed, and remained fairly blackfly-free too.
But you never know, they might just have enjoyed the cool damp conditions. Anyway, we'll grow some again this year.
I suppose it would be very canny to grow some that like it hot, and some that like it damp, and then you're covered at both ends of the spectrum! I'm just aiming to try a lot of varieties of things this coming year, to see what likes my garden. And what we eat most of.
Quote from: Flighty on February 12, 2009, 19:17:49
I'm trying Masterpiece Green Longpod this year.
I don't need the whole packet so if you want say 20 seeds then please PM me!
I'm trying that one too (in addition to the ever reliable Aquadulce).
Has anyone grown Stereo before ..They look interesting ....
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/410/1/
Saddad is you tempting providence? ;D
Both Bunyards & Masterpiece Green Longpod are very good. I now grow the Heritage Seed Library's purple-flowered bean as my mainstay. They're not as productive (smaller plants and only 3 or 4 beans per pod) but we prefer the flavour as it's a bit more subtle and doesn't have that slight metallic edge that some of the bigger ones seem to have.
I can let you have a few seeds if you're interested. But you can't grow them near any of the white-flowered varieties as they cross-pollinate and don't come true to type. I grow Aquadulce for over-wintering, but make sure they are on the other plot.
Quote from: growmore on February 13, 2009, 08:50:35
Has anyone grown Stereo before ..They look interesting ....
I have grown Stereo for a few years (Edwin Tucker seeds though) they give small white beans which are really nice picked young. I love broad beans but the only one in the family that does - so Aquadulce planted Nov for a first crop, then Red Epicure crops and finish off with Stereo. Lovely continuous crops of beans.
Quote from: growmore on February 13, 2009, 08:50:35
Saddad is you tempting providence? ;D
That's what I thought....sent him to the 'norty' corner I say...... ;)
I'm trying some Scarlet flowered and Crimson flowered (? different strains) this year that I got form the HSL seed swap on the potato day........as the chap on the plot next door only grows broadies and nothing else every year, I'm expecting them to pick up every disease and insect going! :-\
Sorry peeps... can I come out of the corner yet? :-[
Thanks for all the tips, peeps! Apologies - it was *Nilly* that gave me the Aguadulce, not Robert B, who gave me some Magnum Bonum peas. Thanks to both, and to Flighty for offering me some of the Masterpiece Green Longpod. :)
We've been growing Imperial Green Longpod for several years now. I think Masterpiece was supposed to be an improvement of the Imperial variety. Having grown both I would stick to them. They are green beaned varieties, which we prefer. If you pick them when the beans are just showing in the pods, they are deliciously sweet and tender. There is no need to skin them as there is with the large white varieties.
valmarg
Spring planted 'Aquadulce' for me everytime.
Commended by Bill Sowerbutts - remember him?
Quote from: telboy on February 15, 2009, 17:58:42
Commended by Bill Sowerbutts - remember him?
Of Ashton-under-Lyme.
You're giving your age away telboy. ;D :-[
valmarg
Quote from: valmarg on February 15, 2009, 18:04:30
Quote from: telboy on February 15, 2009, 17:58:42
Commended by Bill Sowerbutts - remember him?
Of Ashton-under-Lyme.
You're giving your age away telboy. ;D :-[
valmarg
How did Professor Alan Gemmell of Keele University feel about aquadulce? He and Bill Sowerbutts usually disagreed as I recall!
Personally, I would have to stick with the Imperial/Masterpiece Longpod. The small green beans are absolutely wonderful.
valmarg
Hi all
Having never tried boraod beans before, my wife planted Aquadulce in around the last week of Nov/first week on Dec and we hadnt seen any trace and I assumed they had probably rotted as we were too late. UNTIL I popped along yesterday and saw a few poking up - amazing. I'm hoping the whole lot come up now and we have some success. Is there anything I ought to be doing to protect them now - they have been totally unprotected until now.
Psi
HI Psi, I used to cover my Aquadulce with fleece, and this year decided to leave them unprotected. Having now survived snow, severe frost, hail I think I am going to leave them on their own. Although the cold weather has slowed growth down a bit they seem okay. So following the less hassle route.