Broad Beans (Vicia faba)
Broad beans also known as Fava beans (yep from the movie) are a fantastic crop to try if you are an inexperienced gardener. They are extremely hardy and have a wide variety of uses.
They are a nitrogen fixing crop which means they are excellent for reconditioning the soil after growing grains or planting alongside crops such as broccoli for a healthier harvest.
Sowing.
You can start them off inside or, because they are so hardy, plant them directly outside now.
Firstly prepare your bed. Choose somewhere that is not overly wet. Although they are tolerant of the cold and most soil types they will struggle with standing water. So somewhere that is well drained is a must.
Dig a trench around 5cm deep and place your beans 15-17cm apart. If you are putting in more than one row make sure your rows are at least 30cm apart.
Place in your beans and cover back over with the soil you removed.
After around 10-15 days you should see the first shoots peeking up. The soil should be moist but not wet (pretty sure the weather we are having will help you out with this one!)
Keep a close eye for any weeds springing up and remove them.
Once the plants get big enough you can place canes, such as, Grow it Bamboo Canes, either side of your rows and tie string length ways along them. It can be easier to have an anchor post at each end if you have long rows, much as you would do with raspberries. A Grow It Round Tree Stake at either end would be perfect.
After they have flowered the pods will start to set. When this happens 'pinch' out the lead shoot of each plant. This will cause your plants to 'bush' out and prevent them from becoming weak and 'leggy'.
Once they have started to produce they will firstly look like small Mangetout, you can actually harvest them like this and use them in salads.
If you prefer to wait for the bigger beans, be mindful to harvest them before they become too big as they can get very tough and leathery.
Generally as a rule they should be picked from the lower parts of the plant first as these will be the first to mature.
Diseases.
Although they are a hardy crop there are some issues that can arise.
Mildew can be a problem along with Brown Spot. Both these occur with temperature and humidity rise. These can be avoided by spacing your plants properly and making sure that there's good airflow around them. It often happens with plants that are placed too near to walls or hedges.
Black-fly can be a big problem too. Usually our trusty friends the Ladybirds will sort out this problem for us but if it is taking over you can gently spray down the plants with a hose.
As a last resort (if the problem is way out of hand) you can use Resolva Bug Killer 1lt, be mindful to spray it only on parts of the plant you're not planning to eat and don't use it within 2-3weeks of harvesting.
Broad beans have a multitude of uses, from salads to stews, and they also freeze very well. Plant now and you will be glad you did come summer!
Happy planting!
Sophie X
