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Broad beans in polytunnel not being fertilized

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Fruit & veg
I had some space in the polytunnel last autumn, so put some peas and broad beans in there.  Both came on really well, much faster than my outside broad beans. The inside broad beans look great, and have been covered in flower for a couple of weeks or more. But none of the flowers are even wilting, let alone forming pods. The peas, which were behind the beans in growth until the last week or so, now have a number of pods on them. I’m thinking that I’ve made a mistake with the beans. Do you know if they require a particular pollinating insect which is not on the wing this early in the year? 
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They need to be outside as they are hardy or else you have to leave the polytunnel open in the daytime to let the pollinators.   We do that for our peach, nectarines and citrus that over-winter in the PT but even so pollination on the peach and nectarine has been a bit sparse.   They'll be coming out this weekend so there should be better pollination on the citrus form next week and a good crop of lemons and limquats.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I should have mentioned that the door is always open, plus there’s a mesh “window” at the other end. It’s a pity because they look really healthy. Lesson learned. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • hatty123hatty123 Posts: 125
    I've grown broad beans over winter outside. They've had flowers for a few weeks and I've seen bees on them but only just starting to see flowers at bottom starting to wilt. Hoping this is normal, first time growing them.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Hi @hatty123. It is normal. I have some broad beans outside,  which are a bit behind yours, so not flowering yet. They always produce beans eventually. I expect the bees are slow getting started this year maybe because of the cold nights. I have seen a few around the garden, but not many.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Broad beans are self-pollinating, but the flowers have a mechanism to prevent the pollen from reaching the anther until an insect triggers it.  However, you can simulate that by flicking the flowers with your finger, or even just shaking the stems.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Brilliant @BobTheGardener! I’m straight out there to flick my broad beans. I hoped it would be something that I didn’t know and as ever, the forum saved the day. 😁
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    They release the pollen during the night and a sort of spring needs to be tripped by the insects (or us.)  The sources I read say you'll get a better crop if they are open-pollinated by insects, but it definitely worth trying on plants grown under cover.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    I've grown broad beans successfully in a polytunnel in past years. Just give them a jiggle when you're in there watering.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We had some broad beans in our polytunnel last year and had a good return.
    Didn't self pollinate but there is always an opening for the insects to come in.
    However we did have to pollinate the aubergine plants.
    Some gains and some losses.
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