Better than shop bought
Fresh broad beans are packed with vitamins and minerals, and totally tasty when picked early on.
They’re relatively easy to grow, even in smaller gardens.
Fresh broad beans are packed with vitamins and minerals, and totally tasty when picked early on.
They’re relatively easy to grow, even in smaller gardens.
Broad beans come in many varieties, although there are two main types, longpod, which, as the name suggests, have longer pods and Windsor, which are rounder and have shorter pods.
Dwarf varieties are ideal for smaller gardens and container growing.
Some hardy varieties can be sown in autumn or even winter.
Broad Bean – Bunyards Exhibition
A reliable cultivar which can be sown in the spring for harvesting in the summer.
Broad Bean Dwarf – Sutton
The Sutton is a dwarf, bush variety of broad beans, but yields as well as most taller varieties.
Great for planting in pots for the patio!
Broad beans love a warm, full-sun spot in the garden.
The ideal position is sheltered from winds.
The soil should be rich and well-draining.
Water well when first planted, then again when the first flowers appear – unless there has been lots of rain.
During periods of dry weather you may need to water more frequently.
If you’re growing broad beans in pots or other containers water regularly as these will dry out quicker.
Avoid planting in areas that are prone to high winds.
Harden off the young plants for two weeks before planting out – take them out the daytime and bring them in at night.
Use a general liquid feed every two weeks to encourage a better crop.
Broad beans benefit from pinching out the growing tip.
This encourages the energy to go into side shoots which will help the formation of flowers then pods.
Pinching out broad beans can also help to minimise problems with blackfly as they prefer to gather in soft shoot tips.
Blackfly is a common problem with broad beans.
A bad infestation will stunt growth of bean shoots and potentially ruin a harvest.
Pinching off tips can help. If you see blackfly early enough you can remove them with a brush, or spray with water/soapy water.
Some gardeners plant nasturtiums with broad beans as these may divert the blackfly!
Chocolate spot only affects broad beans, but if infected, the entire plant can be lost.
You may still get some crops, but make sure you destroy affected plants at the end of the growing season.
Broad bean rust appears as dark spots with a yellow surround on leaves.
Again, once you finish harvesting your beans, you will need to destroy any affected plants so that the disease doesn’t survive.
Depending on your planting time, your broad beans should be ready to harvest from late spring to early summer.
Young broad beans are delicious eaten raw, so pick them when the pods are still relatively small or let them grow on for larger beans to steam or lightly boil.
Broad beans have a ‘scar’ – this should be green or white.
Black scarred beans will be rather tough.
Need more advice?
If you’re still unsure or need any advice, our friendly teams will be happy to chat with you and suggest which varieties would be best for you to plant, as well as when and where to plant them.
We hope you enjoy planting your broad beans– but more importantly, enjoy eating them!