Malcolm Smith's allotment broad bean page

Malcolm Smith's
Allotment Cultivation Notes

Preparation

Broad beans are faily tolerant of most soils but do not like waterlogged ground. They do not require deep digging by way of preparation but will benefit from stable manure having been dug in.

Firstly I draw out a shallow trench which will remain as a water trap for dry periods. The seeds are dropped into 2" deep dibbed holes about 8" apart. Some successional sowing will prolong the season. The plants will need to be tied up and supported on canes.

Giant Exhibition Longpod

Sow/plant Feb-Apr; 2" deep; 8" apart; double rows 9" apart; 30" between double rows; grows to 3'0".

Cultivation

Keep weeds down by hand and hoe. Be sure to water in dry periods and add mulch if possible. Pinch out the growing tips when the plant is about 3' high, also if blackfly starts to be a problem. Take out late side shoots.

Sowing to harvesting takes about 14 weeks. Young pods can be picked for eating whole. Do not allow any pods to go to seed. Any surplus can be frozen or given away.

Slugs are the first problem for the young plants. Blackfly are a constant problem with Broad Beans. Pinching out the tops of the plant can reduce their presence. A spray made up from rhubarb leaves (oxalic acid) will also deter the fly or a spray of detergent will disable them. My beans always seem to get rust before they have completed cropping, and this really indicates the end of them for that year.

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