Sow What?

Extra Precoce a Broad Bean ummmmmm

The middle of November, it’s cold, the wind is blowing every leaf from every tree in the village on to my garden and it hasn’t stopped raining since about September.  I am being constantly told to turn the heating up (why is the argument of ‘just put a jumper on’ never valid?) and I really do need to get some decorating done.  So why would I want to go into the garden?

I do want to get out there and why? To plant my Broad Beans that is why.

Now is, I think, the best time to start sowing.  There are a large number of varieties of beans that can be sown between the months of October & February and the earlier you sow then not only do you get a great early crop but they are protected naturally from the blackfly that can attack some of the plants that are sown closer to the Spring months.  The seeds sown now will be ready to harvest from around March onwards so a great start to the vegetable year.

Broad Beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow.  They will produce well in almost any type of soil as long as there is a little bit of goodness in there for them.  If planting during the Autumn and Winter months then you will get a far better crop if your soil is quite well draining as the plants do not like to sit in waterlogged, frozen soil.  Dig in some sand if the soil has a high clay content and do ensure that you dig the soil quite deep as the Broad bean produces a long tap root so the softer and more broken the soil the deeper this root can travel.  Obviously every variety of bean is slightly different in the way it wants to sown however as a guide, Broad beans should be sown in a hole that is around 5cm deep and a couple of beans popped into each hole.  Leave somewhere between 5-30cm between each plant and 50cm between each row.

Once sown, let nature do the work.  Once things start to happen keep the area weed free, so a little hoe work may be required (another reason why early sowing is good…..less weeds), add a little mulch and water the plants during dry spells once the plant has started to produce flowers.  Pinch out the tops of each plant once the lowest (and first to produce) of the pods has started to show, this will promote earlier cropping and should increase your crop.  It may also help to remove any blackfly that may have taken a little shine to the plant.

After this just harvest when the pods are ready.  Pick them on a regular basis before the pods have had the chance to get too old and the beans dry and too hard to eat.  As I have said the pods mature first at the base of the plant so slowly work your way up and you should manage quite a few pickings before the plant is done.

Histal - Supplied in 250g boxes

Hopefully this has given you just a few little pointers and you now fancy planting a few beans or peas.  We have many varieties that we supply in large 250gm boxes which gives you one heck of a ‘crop for your cash’.  Why not try the Histal or Reina Mora Broad beans as these are both supplied in the large boxes.

Enjoy!