Broad bean success

The year before last I, along with everyone else growing them on my allotment site, ended up pulling up the blackfly infested broad beans.

Because of that I didn't bother last year and wasn't going to this year either. However I did, there's been no sign of blackfly and today I picked the first pods.

They're the variety Witkiem Manita and each pod contains five light-green, smallish beans which, when cooked, are delicious.

I'll almost certainly grow them again next year but I do wonder if this was a one-off success.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Damo on June 28, 2011 at 18:12

They look good Flighty, I overwintered quite a few broad beans this time and they've been fantastic. Not a sign of blackfly and long may it continue!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gareth Bowes on June 29, 2011 at 10:36

They look great. I've grown Bunyard's Exhibition for the last 3 years in County Durham and had good results, although last year's plants didn't seem to grow as well as 2009 and 2011(....and had blackfly). I have 90 plants this year, which were planted individually in trays in March and planted out in April. Pods have been forming for the last couple of weeks, so I'll check today and see how they're coming along. I added some dried chicken manure around the base of the plants a couple of times during May and it may just have been my imagination, but I think it really gave them a boost. The plants have shot up this week with the sunny days and afternoon downpours we've been having.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sarah Rideout on July 5, 2011 at 8:39

This is the Crimson flower Broad Bean - looks striking, bees love the flowers and good amount of Beans. From Heritage Seed Library, Garden Organic (HDRA).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gareth Bowes on July 5, 2011 at 10:37

In contrast to my previously optimistic post, I checked my broad beans over the weekend and discovered that the vast majority of my plants don't seem to have any pods.......some do, but they're in the minority. 3 of the better growers on our allotments also seem to have the same problem. The plants flowered very well.....pods seemed to be coming, then it seems like they just stopped. Any suggestions? I'm having a stab in the dark and blaming the dry weather.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on July 5, 2011 at 10:51

Most plants like some water at the flowering stage so they can set fruit. Flowers tend to drop off if the plant hasn't got the resources it needs at the critical time, so its quite likely. Having said that, I didn't water mine and we are an official drought area and mine are doing well. Is it an exposed site? Could be wind or lack of insects to pollinate (also blown away by wind) too.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on July 5, 2011 at 11:19

What beautifully coloured flowers Sarah - plus attendant bee, must have some!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rob Duffin on July 5, 2011 at 15:28

Well if it's any consolation Melinda, I have some great looking plants, nipped the tops out at the first sign of the black fly arriving, pods growing nicely and now something's eating them before I get to them :>( Probably the mice wanting a change from strawberries...

Melinda Que_Linda said: