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Broad beans may well be a popular 'school dinner'serving - and as such hated by so many of us, but they are so much more than that. Not only are they tasty and nutritious - when not boiled to death by deft-handed dinner ladies - they are in fact an ancient food crop that dates as far back as 6000 years BC. Still popular-ish today, broad beans are one of the few vegetable plants that can be sown late in the year for winter production. This timing is important as it will ensure a late spring/early summer harvest when there is little other home-grown fresh produce around.
Broad bean plants are frost hardy so to get an early crop you can sow broad bean seeds any time from early autumn to late winter. Should you miss this window you can re-sow from early April for a later harvest.
Choose an open sunny site preferably on ground which has been well dug and manured – preferably a couple of months previous. Although broad beans prefer a deep, free draining soil they are in fact tolerant of most soil types so long as they are not water-logged. A week or so before sowing you can add a nitrogen feed to the soil. Although Broad Beans have nitrogen fixing bacteria in little nodules along the roots, they will not be functioning properly until the plants begin to grow strongly. This extra nitrogen feed at the beginning of their growth cycle will help to get them off to a good start.
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Soak your seeds in water for an hour or so before sowing in double rows, 2 inches deep with each individual row 9 inches apart from each other. Should you require further sets of double rows then leave a distance of between 18-24 inches before you start your next line. If you are short of space then consider staggering your plantings to make the best use of the area. Remember that spacing shouldn't be compromised as good airflow is essential for combating fungal disease.
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‘Aquadulce Claudia’ is not a very tall variety but can still suffer with stems breaking or falling over with the weight of the beans - they are especially at risk in strong winds. If you secure stakes on the outside of each rows and run wire or strong string along them, this will support the crop as it matures. Should you wish to, you can cover your crop with horticultural fleece to help to keep off the worst of the weather.
Hoe between the rows regularly to keep down the weeds but use a hand tool close to the plants to prevent accidental breakage of the fragile bean stems.
As soon as young beans appear at the base of the plant it's time to 'pinch out' the growing tips.
Go to the very top of the plant and remove the tip with two leaves attached, you can compost these or steam them as a leaf vegetable.
Harvesting broad beans
Pick from the bottom up when ripe and continue to harvest frequently. Finger thick beans can be eaten whole or wait until the pod bursts open to harvest the fully ripe beans inside.
When finished, cut off stems and dig roots back into the soil to make use of captured nitrogen.
Broad beans are great for storing. You can dry or freeze the beans. To freeze, pick fresh, pod, place in a plastic bag and freeze.
To dry, pick, pod and lay out the beans in a dry place. Leave beans to completely dry and store in an air tight container. These can be sown next year or rehydrated for use in cooking.
For more information click onto:
Growing Kidney Beans
How to Germinate and Grow Cucumbers from Seed
How to Germinate and Grow Melon Plants from Seed
How to Germinate and Grow Okra from Seed Indoors
How to Grow Aubergines From Seed
How to Grow Autumn Sowings of Broad Beans
How to Grow the Autumn Broad Bean 'Aquadulce Claudia'
How to Grow the Autumn Fava Bean 'Aquadulce Claudia'
How to Grow Butternut Squash
How to Grow Butternut Squash from Seed
How to Grow Cabbage from Seed
How to Grow Carrots from Seed
How to Grow Chinese Spinach from Seed
How to Grow Eggplants from Seed
How to Grow Giant Onions
How to Grow Okra from Seed Outdoors
How to Grow Potatoes
How to Grow Red Kidney Beans from Dried Seed
How to Grow Spinach from Seed
How to Grow Sweet Corn from Seed
How to Grow Sweet Corn
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Pots or Containers
How to Propagate and Grow Chili Peppers from Seed
How to Propagate and Grow Sweet Peppers from Seed
How to Propagate and Grow the Bell Pepper from Seed
How to Sow and Grow Courgettes from Seed Indoors
How to Sow and Grow Courgettes from Seed Outdoors
How to Sow and Grow Spring Onions from Seed
How to Take Cuttings from Sweet Potatoes
Plants
Why do Beans make you Fart?
Based on an article from http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingbroadbeans1.shtml
Images care of http://north-fife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/broad-beans-north-fife.html and http://www.allotment-blog.co.uk/2012/11/autumn-growing-broad-beans.html and http://www.greeningofgavin.com/2011/11/broad-bean-harvest.html