Broad Beans

[chadspad]

Hi all,
I have already eaten my broad beans, they were yummy and Im gutted that theyve finished so soon - I clearly didnt plant enuf! The packet says they should be planted from Feb to May but Im wondering whether I could sneak another crop in. Has anyone grown them this late on? Being in France with the weather being better until later perhaps I would stand a chance?

[Han&Matt]

Our little seedlings have only just poked above the soil whilch I was thinking is pretty late - but Reg from over the way is of the opinion that broad beans are 'robust little buggers' - a gem of eloquent wisdom I am happy to pass on...

Broads are just the best though, I agree!

[chadspad]

Hiya,
Thanks for that - Oh Im gonna have a go then and with hundreds of them this time lol

[Millymollymandy]

Chadspad - do you buy broad bean seeds in France and if so, what are they called?

I've never grown them - in fact I've only ever eaten them a few times and thought they were quite bitter and horrible. But then again, I didn't like a lot of veg when I was a kid so they might be worth a try, seeing as so many people seem to like them/grow them! I think it is curiosity mostly actually!

[chadspad]

Hi M3

The name on the box is Fève (which I have just translated on internet as Broad Bean!). I bought these from an HyperU and the make is Le Paysan. These were really lovely altho like I said, I didnt do nearly enuf!

I was never a lover of many vegetables until I started growing my own - I think that makes all the difference.

[hedgewizard]

MMM, as with many veg a lot depends on how they are cooked. Broadies are best eaten before the little attachment point on the side of the bean as become discoloured, but even so some posh restaurants take the hull off the bean. Sounds like too much work for me! Bacon is a classic accompaniment - I tried a re-worked roman recipe last weekend, coking enough for two meals with the intention of having some cold with fresh bread a couple of days later. My gannet family ate the lot!

[Millymollymandy]

You are both right - growing my own and cooking them not a la grandma may well make a big difference!

[chadspad]

In answer to my own question, yes broad beans can be planted as late as early July. They have now got pods on - the plants arent as big as they were the first time round but theyre still producing which is totally different to the seed packets advice!

[hedgewizard]

Yup, I'm going to put some in in October for overwintering - some varieties are frost hardy and grow on quickly once things warm up again. Apparently they're not so tasty as spring grown ones, but ready a lot earlier.

[chadspad]

Oh didnt know u could do that, will try that too - thanks!

[hedgewizard]

A bit of further reading reveals that the biggest danger to overwintering broadies is that they're at the mercy of the wind, so if they develop too much top growth before the big cold, they get ripped to bits. A sheltered location and some support is called for.

[supersprout]

We eat broadies pods and all, simply steamed, when they are the size of your little finger. You don't find those in the shops! And the bean tops like spinach. Anyone else?

Chadspad, you are so right, I didn't sow nearly enough this year, my plot will be covered in successional broadies next year too

[chadspad]

So having moaned last year that I hadnt done enuf broadies - Ive done exactly the same thing this year and still didnt do enuf lol. Fancy trying them to overwinter, seems sowing in Oct/Nov is the right time but when will they be ready?

[ina]

Fancy trying them to overwinter, seems sowing in Oct/Nov is the right time but when will they be ready?

The ones I put in in November didn't do half as well as the ones I started off indoors in spring. (And yes, it was the correct variety for autumn sowing.) So I'm going to give up on that, and in future try and start them earlier indoors (in loo rolls, btw.)

[chadspad]

I wonder if it was perhaps too cold where you are Ina? I will have a go partly thru curiosity and partyl cos theres never much else in my veg patch at that time of year so might as well use the space. I have tried doing them a few weeks after the recommended sowing times and altho they did grow they were very small and didnt have nearlt as many beans on. Next year I am definitely growing at least 3 packets worth