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Broad beans question

jenniedentonjenniedenton Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Growing broad beans in a veggie plot outside. Started them indoors and transplanted to outdoors when big enough. Now are very tall, not bushy and very few small pods. Is this a pollination issue or lack of sun or poor soil quality? I nipped the tips out a few weeks ago to see if that helped but no change!
Any ideas if there is anything I can do to improve the crop?
thanks!

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Looks a bit shaded there - they need full sun to crop well.  Most broad bean plants will have a single stem and a few will have 2 or 3 so they don't bush out as such.  If those are deciduous trees causing the shade, you could try an autumn sowing, direct in the ground.  They will then do a lot of their growing when there are no leaves on the trees and you'll get an early harvest next year.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Confused. You look to be trying to grow them up poles as if they were runner beans or climbing French beans. Broad beans aren’t climbers. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jenniedentonjenniedenton Posts: 9
    edited July 2020
    Dovefromabove said:
    Confused. You look to be trying to grow them up poles as if they were runner beans or climbing French beans. Broad beans aren’t climbers. 
    Only have poles because they kept falling over without support because of how tall they are!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2020
    Ah gotcha ... 👍
    thought I was Confused of Norfolk 😂 
    Then I agree with @BobTheGardener ... the spot is too shady for them. 
    We have a ash large tree near our veg plot which casts a lot of shade in the summer  ... I sow winter hardy broadbeans Aquadulce Claudia at the end of October ... they grow slowly through the winter when there are no leaves in the trees and we’re harvesting them in May before the big ash tree  is fully leafed up ... crafty eh?! 😉 
    What’s even better there’s not many fresh veg around in May so they are very welcome. 😃 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jenniedentonjenniedenton Posts: 9
    Thank you for variety suggestion :-) good plan too!!!! Will try growing  over the winter :-) very novice gardener here with no choice where my veg plot is :-( so need to pick my plants better I think!!
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