My broad beans are about 10" tall with little flower buds (I think - never grown them before!) but they also have new shoots coming up from the base, should I pick these out - help!! and thanks
When I took on my allotment I was given lolts of advice by the others plot holders....one bit of advice was to remove the side shoots that appear at the bottom of the broad beans....so I do.....but I never asked why ;D
I never heard that before. I suppose its to get larger pods. Aren't you supposed to do that with sweet peas to get larger flowers if you are going to show them. I have always left my broad beans to grow into little bushes and usually get a good crop. The frost took out a few plants this year but some of them sprouted up again as soon as the warmer weather arrived.
I think the side shoot issue (suckers) is the same with most plants they sap the strength from the main body of the plant.
I always look at it this way;
Plants have one root system which has an optimum capacity to look after ONE plant not a series of plants.
Generally leaving shoots/suckers on results in more of less i.e. as in this case, you will have more beans in number but not necessarily in quality and weight.
Personally I would remove them!
I leave them. They photosynthesise, so I can't see that they're taking from the main stem; they may even be adding strength to the plant. I get plenty of beans, which is what counts.
Also, it may be an unsuitable analogy but, the roots of a tree spread out to support the size of the crown. The bigger the crown, the more spread out the roots. It is possibly the same with other plants too. I too leave them, I have enough jobs to do.
Sounds like several on the allotments I noticed today when I walked round.
Long and spindly, started in the hot house then planted out.
Struggling to survive they have tried to reproduce to save their species.
Leave them be. They will catch up with those sown out doors at the proper time but will not give good produce.
Sow runner beans in the cold and let them develop their hardy qualities outside, next year.
It is all a learning curve.
i only planted mine two weeks ago!
I put mine in last week. I'm quite glad I didn't plant last autumn; the winter's decimated my overwintering onions, and it would have done the same to the beans.