Broad beans
A traditional spring vegetable, broad beans are surprisingly easy to grow and offer a satisfying harvest. The fresh, tender beans are delicious shelled and lightly cooked.
Broad beans seeds
£2.29 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Autumn (October-November) for an early crop, or early Spring (February-April) directly into prepared soil.
Plant out
Not typically transplanted. Sow directly. Protect autumn sowings from severe frost.
Harvest
Late May – July, 12-16 weeks from spring sowing.
Conditions
Sun
Full sun to partial shade.
Water
Keep consistently moist, especially during flowering and pod development. Don't let the soil dry out.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Enrich with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure.
Spacing
20cm between plants, 45-60cm between rows. May need support for taller varieties.
Containers
Yes, larger dwarf varieties can be grown in deep pots (minimum 30cm) with good drainage.
Indoors
Can be sown indoors in modules in February for an earlier crop, then hardened off and planted out.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not needed if soil is fertile. Over-fertilising with nitrogen can reduce pod set.
Pruning
Pinch out the growing tips (the 'tops') once the plants have set several trusses of pods. This helps deter black bean aphids and encourages pod filling.
Harvesting
Pick when pods are plump and swollen, but before the beans inside become too large and starchy. Pods should be bright green.
Storage
Shell and store beans in the fridge for a few days. Blanch and freeze for up to a year.
Good companions: Potatoes, Spinach, Corn, Cabbage, Marigolds