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broad bean question
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Message 1.Â
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
i bought 2 broad bean plants a month ago and was told its ok to plant them out in a sheltered spot wich i did....they been growing ok apart from battling the slugs..but they are flowering...is that good or bad????? sorry for a stupid question but this is my first veg year..
many thanks -
Message 2
Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
Yes, each flower (hopefully) will turn into a tiny broadbean pod that gradually swells. If you pick them less than 6" long you can eat the pod as well as the beans inside.
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Message 3
Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
The broad beans which I planted last autumn have overwintered in the garden and started flowering a few weeks ago. They now have small pods forming so I am looking forward to picking beans.
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Message 4
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Friday, 14th May 2010
thanks the help..happy to know they are doing ok, as somebody had told me to remove the flowers to encourage groth...wich i was pretty sure wasnt right..
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Message 5
Posted by Calendula (U2331338) on Friday, 14th May 2010
but they are flowering...is that good or bad?????Â
I'm sorry - I thought I had seen it all on this board.
I would be interested in knowing how the OP thought they were going to produce beans. Well done to those of you who managed to give a sensible answer. -
Message 6
Posted by Saravisiae (U2247962) on Friday, 14th May 2010
It's not that daft a question- with some fruiting plants it is bad if they flower too early and you should remove the flowers to encourage more growth to get stronger plants so that they have enough energy to produce larger fruits later on.
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Message 7
Posted by treechange (U14126469) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Saravisiae: usually the first, lowest flowers on my broad bean
don't set very well or at all, but a bit later on as they've grown a bit
set very well.
I thought this was fairly usual but maybe not? If not could something be done to help this - apart from trying to get the bumblebees to fly lower
It doesn't really worry me too much, but might be helpful to fulman who only has a few plants -
Message 8
Posted by Saravisiae (U2247962) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Yes I get the same thing which is one reason other why it's not worth pulling flowers off broad beans even if the plants are tiny! You could try pollinating by hand using a paintbrush perhaps?
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Message 9
Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Not everybody is a smartarse who knows all the answers Calendula, and those that are unsure or do not know, ask questions.
Not everyone is born knowing all the answers, most of us are born with all the questions, and rely on those with the information, to pass it on without them taking a superior attituded. -
Message 10
Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Broad beans are probably the best vegetable in the world in my humble opinion, and I'll bet that once Fulman gets a taste of the real thing he will be planting as many as possible next time!
They don't mind cold at all, in fact you can sow them in the autumn and let them stand all winter - tho' I'm not sure how they did last year for those who did that?
Later on, when the beans are set, they may get infested with black fly at the tips, and that is when it is a good idea to pinch out the tip of the plants - which is what the person telling you may have been thinking of - but don't take any flowers off or you will have fewer beans and that really would be a pity! Enjoy. -
Message 11
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Friday, 14th May 2010
i dont see why canudula thinks its so stupid to ask...i did say its my first year to try and grow veg...iv got potatos..beetrot..spinach.an spring onion..carots and salad aswell...so im sure i can keep canadula amused all summer......
and as for my broad beans thanks all who helped.. -
Message 12
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Friday, 14th May 2010
ohhhh i forgot to mention my toms..chillis..aubergins...and garlics....lol sheeeeesh i got plenty a stupid questions.....!!
also i read alot of books and use the internet to look things up...but its very reasuring when actual people with experience give advice..its real advice not just what you understand from a book.....just a thought.....! -
Message 13
Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Friday, 14th May 2010
- ask away fulman but i suggest you get a few more broad bean plants as 2 is hardly enough for a meal!
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Message 14
Posted by Saravisiae (U2247962) on Friday, 14th May 2010
I was quite lucky in that I grew up with veg-growing parents and I also have always had my Dad on the end of the phone to answer my more basic questions since I started growing my own veg. It took me a bit by suprise at first to realise that people didn't know some of the stuff I thought kind of general knowledge.
My OH is a primary school teacher and he's been growing veg with the kids which is great. -
Message 15
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Friday, 14th May 2010
how many plants should i get for a decent crop?????
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Message 16
Posted by honeysuckle (U8412568) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Mine survived the early part of the winter but when I drew back the fleece in Feb. they had completely disappeared. (Black Magic?) I have previously been successful with autumn sow ones.
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Message 17
Posted by grandcottagegardener (U14258183) on Friday, 14th May 2010
how many plants should I get for a decent crop?????Â
I would suggest that you plant a minimum of 20 plants. To minimise on cost I suggest you buy a packet of seeds for varieties that you can sow up to May. They're really easy to grow Fulman and I think you will enjoy the novelty of growing them yourself.
Just a note - your initial question was certainly not daft. When you're new to gardening it can be very confusing. Flowers in the garden need dead heading (remove seed head) to promote more flowering. Veggies such as beans need to set seed in order to give us a harvest, whereas some veggies have male and female flowers. So ........carry on asking questions and next year when you look at the message boards you'll be on your way to being an expert and able to give newcomers the benefit of your hands on knowledge.
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Message 18
Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Friday, 14th May 2010
Yes, they are really easy to grow from seed. I sow them in small pots and then plant them out when they are about 4" tall. It's much cheaper than buying plants.
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Message 19
Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
As many as you can fit in without losing to other things you like as well. Broad beans are not only wonderful to eat fresh, but they freeze extremely well if you have that facility - nothing like the fresh taste of summer sun in the midwinter. Hmm, may be I should say in the mid summer the way things are going at the moment.
We had very little room last year, and grew only around 10 plants of Broad beans, had about 6 good meals for 2 from that. The thing is that they grow these enormous pods which are mostly lovely soft fur inside, so the amount of beans you get on your plate bears little resemblance to the bag of pods you have picked or bought.
You need to start somewhere however, and as this is your first year, probably a little bit of everything is a good idea - you will find out what grows well in your area, what things are worth growing, and which ones you like best. Do hope you are growing peas, for me they have to be an absolute essential for summer taste - the freshest in the shops taste nothing like the ones you have just picked - yum, mouth is watering already just at the thought of it. -
Message 20
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
yes i have quite a few things iv started from seed my spare bedroom looks like a greenhouse, im not sure how much sucsess im having yet my tomatoes look very small..maybe when they plant out its better..but your right im just trying a bit of evrything this year to see what grows well as my garden is a courtyard garden in central london..so its just small and i dont want lose my shrub and geranium collection wich is my passion..
iv got 4 large tubs of various potatos that seem to be doing great......so im really excited to get a taste of them...... -
Message 21
Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
Ful, if it's the first time you've grown them you'll be amazed how good the potatoes will taste!
unless they're a 'bush' variety, make sure to remove the side shoots on your tomato plants as they grow.....these are the little shoots that grow from where a leaf joins the stem. -
Message 22
Posted by Saravisiae (U2247962) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
One of the great things about broad beans is that they can be sown wherever you want to grow them so no need to have them in pots in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. Sown direct in March, they are resistant to frost, one of the easiest things to grow.
My first succession (Aquadulce) is about 16 plants, the second (greenies!) is about the same number of plants. I'll probably have another two batches after those, sowing the next one next week.
The other great thing about growing broad beans is that it's easy to save the seed from your plants each year. As long as you don't get a F1 type, you only ever need to buy each variety once. In my case never because I got the seed from my Dad! -
Message 23
Posted by fulman (U14406882) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
im gona buy some bb seeds tomorrow and maybe 5/6 plants if they have them ill try and find the varietys you mention.....and yes richard my mouth waters evry time i pass the potatoes....i planted out a couple of toms and chillis today to see how they go..its quite warm in london and no more frosts they say...so ill see how they go...!
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Message 24
Posted by Saravisiae (U2247962) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
Just so you know- greenies is not a proper variety name. The original seed was gormet something. We got the originals so long ago we can't remember the proper name. The seeds are green which is why we call them greenies! There are probably lots of great tasting newer varieties.
Aquadulce are not the tastiest bean (they're still good though!), I grow them because you can sow them in Autumn for an early spring crop.
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