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From the information I gathered, it is advised that Broad beans are to be planted, anytime from March to early May: when you feel there is no risk of further frosts.
It is advised that you plant the broad bean seeds in individual pots and leave them, to grow in the green house. This ... Read review
Advantages: SATISFYING TO GROW YOURSELF. Disadvantages: fOUR MONTHS OF LOVE AND CARE, WHEN YOU CAN JUST BUY THEM IN A SUPERMARKET!
...had decided to grow, were broad beans: my favourite vegetable.
We found broad beans seeds; being sold by 'Thompson & Morgan' for around, two pounds. There were around fifty seeds in the pack and looked basically, like dried out broad beans, as served at the dinner table.
Arriving home, feeling motivated, we researched how to propagate these seeds.
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First of all, the soil where you plan ... ...gathered, it is advised that Broad beans are to be planted, anytime from March to early May: when you feel there is no risk of further frosts.
It is advised that you plant the broad bean seeds in individual pots and leave them, to grow in the green house. This is easily done; half fill the pots with compost, (both pots and compost are available from garden centres) place the bean on top, and then use the compost to fill the pots. The ... more
I don't recall what sparked the idea, but March 2005, my husband and I decided to try our hand at growing vegetables. We realised it was a very un-cool and un-hip thing for a young couple, to be doing in their spare time. But, we felt inspired.
Dressed in disguise; so, not to be noticed by our peers, we went in search for vegetable seeds in the garden centre. Amongst the vegetables we had decided to grow, were broad beans: my favourite vegetable.
We found broad beans seeds; being sold by 'Thompson & Morgan' for around, two pounds. There were around fifty seeds in the pack and looked basically, like dried out broad beans, as served at the dinner table.
Arriving home, feeling motivated, we researched how to propagate these seeds.
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First of all, the soil where you plan to plant the beans needs to be prepared. This is done by: digging and turning the soil, removing all weeds etc. Raking in some kind of fertilizer, such as manure. None of this is essential, but will ensure best results. This process should be commenced at least two months before you intend to plant the beans.
From the information I gathered, it is advised that Broad beans are to be planted, anytime from March to early May: when you feel there is no risk of further frosts.
It is advised that you plant the broad bean seeds in individual pots and leave them, to grow in the green house. This is easily done; half fill the pots with compost, (both pots and compost are available from garden centres) place the bean on top, and then use the compost to fill the pots. The beans need watering immediately and then every evening after.
It takes about a month for the beans to shoot; and to grow, to approximately 2 inches in height. At this stage, they are ready to plant in the ground.
A trench needs to be dug, approximately six inches deep. If you are having more than one row of broad beans, the trenches would need to be approximately nineteen inches apart; due to the massive root structure of the beans. Once dug, just gently take the broad beans shoots, out of their pots and place them along the rows, about ten inches apart. Then, re-fill the trenches: leaving the broad bean shoot, above the soil.
All that needs to be done now: is water them every other evening (it's thought, that if you water in the daytime, when the sun is out; you are condemning the plant, to death by burns), not every day as over watering can cause the roots to rot. Of course, in Britain, nature is kind to us; saving us from this chore often, due to the frequent rainfalls.
During the next four months, you will see the broad bean plant grow. For the first two months, the plant will take form, as a huge sturdy stalk with leaves protruding from it. It will then grow small white and black flowers; these flowers will die after about a month. In their place, will grow miniature broad bean pods. At this stage, three months after planting - the broad bean plant will be about two and a half feet tall. Now, you need to nip the top of the plant off, so all energy can be used to make beans, rather than grow taller. The broad bean pods will grow bigger and fatter over the fourth and last month, until they are approximately 10 - 12 inches long.
Now around July or August, depending on when you planted them: the beans are ready to hit the dinner table!
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When we initially began our quest, we heard about, all kind of problems we would be likely to encounter: Black fly and slugs being the main, potential threat, to the beans. Apparently, if you plant marigolds nearby, they will attract the flies, and keep the flies away from the beans. For the slugs, we were advised to make traps in the ground for them, glasses filled with beer (how cruel). We did neither and had no problems with black fly or slugs.
From our research, we had concluded that no support structure was needed to keep the plant upright, as the stalks were so sturdy. Three months into the growing process and a few heavy winds later, we found that alot of the stalks had snapped or collapsed under the weight. As we had planted so very many of the beans, this wasn't a huge loss. However, if we plant them next year, we will tie the beans to a stick, for that extra support.
They are hardy little plants, withstanding practically everyrthing nature throws at it; i.e. vast rain, heavy winds (mostly) etc. Which makes them a great vegetable to grow for first time gardeners.
The garden patch took very little maintenance; we kept the weeds at bay, pulling the pesky things out about once a week. Other than that, we did very little, besides watch what we had created, grow and grow.
At midJuly 2005, our beans were ready to be harvested and eaten. You merely, pull the pods off the plant, open it up; take out the beans (there are about 8 in each); stick them in a pan of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for about 10 - 15 minutes. Hey presto.
The beans can stay on the plant in your garden patch, for around a month, harvesting sporadically. After a month, they will start to shrivel and die. We went rather over the top with our beans, we planted far too many to be eaten by just the two of us, in such a short time. Therefore, we harvested them in mass, blanched them (dipped them in boiling water for a coupe of minutes) then, froze them. In the future, we will scatter the dates when we plant them, so that they are not all ready at the same time. All this knowledge, gained in hindsight!
You can use some of the beans, to plant next year, to create, yet more broad bean plants. Just, leave them to dry out, then store until next march arrives.
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Broad beans are very tasty vegetable; they have a very earthy, irony taste to them. They are best served as an accompaniment to a meat dish of some description.
Broad beans contain many nutrients, beneficial in the diet of us humans: high amounts of protein, copper, niacin, folate and vitamin C.
Broad beans are traditionally known to be an aid to male potency; they contain pantothenic acid, which helps maintain the right level of cholesterol. Apparently, up to 35% of some Mediterranean populations and 10% of Chinese, Indians and Africans are deficient in a specific enzyme, which is contained in broad beans; this means they are susceptible of developing the disease 'favism' (a serious form of anaemia) after eating broad beans.
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In conclusion, it's fairly easy and if I'm honest: good fun and satisfying, to grow broad beans: and indeed any vegetable. It's exciting in a peculiar way, to watch a seed grow into food. The actual vegetable tastes fresher and nicer - this could be due to the lack of pesticides, or it could be psychological; knowing you had grown it, yourself. I am as yet, uncertain as to whether we will grow more next year. It all depends on if I feel inspired again, when March arrives.
Of course, there is no need to go through the hassle of growing them yourselves: you could just buy broad beans from the supermarket, fresh, tinned or frozen.
Advantages: Easy to grow, tolerate low temperatures. Satidfying Disadvantages: None that I can think of.
...do my next review on Broad Beans, as they are one of my favourite vegetables.
Broad Beans are grown as annuals, and are also known as Fava Beans. The different varieties available, vary in height from about thirty centimetres for the dwarf varieties, to one and a half metres for the taller ones. They also have a spread of about forty five centimetres. The types of Broad Bean, are grouped dependent on the time taken before they reach maturity. The ... ...out of their shells.
Broad beans are best suited to a cool climate, and they only grow satisfactorily at temperatures below fifteen degrees celsius. With that in mind, it seems hardly surprising, that in some varieties, the plants can withstand temperatures of as low as minus ten degrees celsius, provided that they are being grown on well drained soil. I have also heard recently, that there are some new varieties on the market, which can withstand ...
SnowiestElf 10.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broad Beans
Advantages: Good for the garden, and you. Disadvantages: None for me.
...difficult to get excited about broad beans.
They're big, tough plants and not really very attractive. Yes, they flower and of course some people just love to eat the beans, but they also have hidden talents.
Like so many of their veggie friends, we're still growing and using them thousands of years after they were first discovered, so they must have something going for them.
There is evidence of a wild form of broad bean from Israel, possibly ... ...of my local garden centre, broad beans are making a big comeback, as more people are discovering what fun vegetable growing can be.
You don't need acres of land to try growing some.
The dwarf variety "The Sutton" costs £2.29 for 50 seeds (Thompson and Morgan catalogue price), and are recommended for container growing. The seeds keep for years as long as they're kept cool, dry and in the dark, so you can store any you don't use. As I live in the ...
Marans 16.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broad Beans
Advantages: Excellent Source Of Protein And Other Nutrients Disadvantages: Take Four Months To Grow Which Is Quite A Long Time.
...of my favourite vegetables - Broad Beans.
THE BACKGROUND
Remains of Broad Beans have been found in Israel dating back 6800 years but it was around 3000 years ago when they first found their way into the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Before the discovery of the Americas the Broad Bean was the only known Bean in the world. The Broad Bean was part of the staple diet of the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans.
THE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Broad ... ...and diminishes with age.
Broad Beans are also known to help male potency as they contain Pantothenic Acid, which helps maintain the right levels of Cholesterol.
It is a well known fact that there about 100 million people in the world who are deficient in a specific enzyme which is found in Broad Beans, these people are susceptible to developing a disease known as 'favism' which is a serious form of anaemia. CULTIVATION
Broad Beans owe a lot of ...
micksheff 27.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broad Beans
Advantages: helps combat bowel cancer, TASTY Disadvantages: GET BLACK FLY
I have just planted my broad beans in the garden. They are the variety Sutton. This variety is a dwarf bean.
I sewed the beans in little pots at the end of feb/ beginning of March and put them in the green house to give them a god start.
I like to get my broad beans started this way helps them get started with out the slugs/snails damaging them. (Living on chalky soil and growing organically I do get a lot of snails) I could have seeded them in ... ...beans up and eat them
Broad beans have a lovely flower visited by many a bee. These flowers develop into a pod, which contains the beans. The pod in itself is enchanting. Ever heard the harvest hymn that says broad beans are sleeping in their blankety bed? The pods have an inner lining of a soft white fur like a blanket.
Pick the pods while plump but do not leave too long or the beans are not too nice. Can't remember roughly how many bean in a ...
mumsymary 29.04.2003 (06.04.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broad Beans
Advantages: A great fresh vegetable Disadvantages: None
...advice. We have planted broad beans for a few years now and have had varying degrees of success with them. This year we decided rather than pay that expensive visit to the garden centre and buy the young fleshy broad bean plants to transplant straight into the soil that we would experiment and plant the beans directly into the soil as someone on the website had suggested.
Maybe many of you have already trialled this method and have had success but ... ...two rows of healthy young broad bean plants.
The plants welcome some sun but they don't enjoy being in a windy spot, the plants are also very susceptible to blackfly and rust. We net them to keep our feathered friends from devouring them before they mature and we keep everything crossed that the slugs don't suddenly choose to add them to their ever expanding menu! Each evening the young plants are given a good drink of fresh water to help promote ...
Sarahjh1 21.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broad Beans
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Can be used in stuffing?s can be added to salads and salad dressing, chopped up and added too rice or pasta dishes, add it too scrambled eggs or omelettes. Make a parsley sauce to pour on your broadbeans.
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Advantages: cheap,easy, fun and healthy Disadvantages: slugs
Beans have been grown for many years, firstly as ornamental flowers and since the Victorian times as a vegetable. Their proper Latin name is Phaseolus occineus. Runner beans are almost always a climbing plant with only a couple of bush varieties but you may have to hunt around to buy these as they are not so common. The other beans most commonly grown in this group of plants are French bean, broadbean and bean sprouts. You can also grow the soy and lima beans but these are not well suited to out climate, yet.
Runner beans are incredibly easy and quick to grow and for these reasons are great for children. There is a lot written about soil preparation but I just dig over, plant and go, but books recommend the digging in of compost or manure in preparation to sowing.
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Advantages: You know how the food is grown, get a hobby, it works out cheaper than shop veg and it is fun Disadvantages: You have to loose a bit of garden and put in a bit of time
When we moved into our house 18 months ago we decided that we wanted to grow our own vegetables to save money, get organic food and to make use of our garden and give us a hobby.
We had a lawn divided in two by a path and decided to dig up one side of the lawn. We now have 4 raised beds which we built at a cost of about £30.00 (timber from a timber merchant is much cheaper than a DIY place). We enriched the soil with well rotted farm manure (from a local farm), another £10.00 and bought seeds by mail order (mostly cheaper than garden centres from Chase Organics on 01932 253666), another £17.00.
Now we are seeing the fruits, or should I say vegetables, of our labour. We have early and new potatoes, courgettes, broadbeans, French beans, parsnips, carrots, onions, cabbages, broccoli and perpetual beet. At this time of year we do ...
