Growing your own broad beans is a great way to get involved in the food cycle. It gives you the ability to make your own delicious meals without having to pay a fortune for it. However, you need to be a bit careful with your plant, because there are several pests and diseases that can destroy it. That is why you need to follow some tips to keep your beans healthy and tasty.
Sowing seeds
The broad bean is a great crop to grow. Not only is it easy to grow, it also requires a minimal amount of maintenance. They have the potential to produce more than a dozen pods per plant.
Broad beans can be sown in early spring or autumn. For the best results, they should be planted in a well-drained soil, which is reasonably fertile. This will prevent seeds from rotting.
Plant seeds in drills that are approximately 5cm deep. Leave a small gap in the centre to allow air to circulate around the roots. You should also fill the space with compost.
Broad beans are a legume, which means they take nitrogen from the air and store it in the roots. It’s also a good idea to water the plants regularly.
Planting in rows
Whether you are planting broad beans in a pot or in the garden, it is important to know the best techniques to ensure success. Broad bean plants are easy to grow, and they require very little maintenance. You can sow them directly into the ground, or you can plant them in a pot and then transfer them to a sunny spot once they are established.
When you are ready to plant, you should sow your seeds in a well-drained, sunny spot. The seeds should be sown at least 6cm deep, and spaced 15cm apart in each row.
After sowing, you should weed around the rows regularly. If the weather is dry, you should water the soil and the broad beans.
Harvesting
Broad beans are one of the first crops you can sow in the garden in the spring. They are tasty and delicious, and also easy to grow. Depending on the variety, the pods can be eaten fresh or frozen. Choosing the best variety for your area is very important.
Broad beans can be sown in the garden in either the spring or autumn. You can sow broad bean seeds under cover if you live in colder climates. For spring sowing, place the seeds at a depth of 5cm. This will allow them to germinate before the weather gets too warm.
The beans will be ready to harvest when they are about eight centimetres long. If you are growing a taller variety, you may need to support it with canes.
Pests and diseases
Broad bean (also known as faba beans) are a great food source. They grow well in cool weather. The seeds should be sown 6 cm (2 1/2 inches) deep and in rows 23 cm (9 inches) apart.
A common pest is the pea / bean weevil. This insect can severely damage young broad bean plants.
The bean leaf beetle can also be a problem, especially in the roots. Adults are 5-6 mm long. Their larvae are dark at both ends and have three pairs of prolegs near the head.
Chocolate spot is another insect pest that can cause trouble. It is most active at flowering time. If left untreated, it can greatly reduce yields. Plants affected by chocolate spot will abort flowers and produce no pods.
Free-draining soil
If you want to grow broad beans, you will need to find free-draining soil. This is because the plant will start growing in a relatively dry spot.
In addition, you will also need to provide adequate light. You can either sow the seeds directly into the ground or plant them in pots.
The best time to sow your broad beans is in the autumn, as this is when they will start producing an early harvest. Alternatively, you can sow them in the greenhouse.
When you are planting your broad bean seeds, make sure you plant them at least 15 cm/6 inches apart in well-drained soil. Broad beans can grow up to 5 feet tall.
There are several varieties available for your garden. One that you may wish to try is ‘Masterpiece Green Longpod’, which produces up to seven beans in each pod.