Our family have a saying that ‘broad beans make a salad’. We like the young tender beans raw in salads even more than we like them cooked.
Spring is a good time to plant broad beans and young plants are appearing at retailers so try some now. These stubby 2-3″ high plants can be planted out in rows or blocks for an early crop. It is still a good time to sow beans for continuity and they will even catch up many of the plants.
Offer broad beans some support by stringing from stout corner posts to form a fence like structure about 2-3″ high depending on the variety. Check the packet for the expected height.
I have planted ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ and ‘Green Windsor’ varieties this year. Also available from good seed merchants are ‘Giant Exhibition Longpod’, ‘Bunyards Exhibition’ and ‘ Express’ (but does it do what it says on the packet try some and let us know). Available from Chiltern Seeds are mangetout type broad beans eaten pod and all called ‘Stereo’ and ‘Sutton Dwarf’
No comments yet.