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Quick broad bean one

Blondie73Blondie73 Posts: 26
edited May 2022 in Fruit & veg
My broad beans are doing quite well for a first time grower. Loads of pods that are around 2cm long, still lots of flowers at the top. They were sown October. Firstly when do I pinch out? Secondly (impatient me) when will they be ready for harvest so I can clear pots and put something else in. My original plan was Toms and courgettes. But now I'm thinking that will be too late. Thanks for your help x

Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    I normally pinch out tips only when they are covered with the inevitable black bean aphid - about mid June.  And last year I finished harvesting mid July …..so you might need a new spot for your Tom’s and courgettes.

    I follow my broad beans with a sowing if Florence fennel - can normally get a crop before the frosts set in in the autumn 🍂 
  • hatty123hatty123 Posts: 125
    This is only my second year growing broad beans so I'll start by saying I'm not an expert! Last year I found that as beans were developing, I was still getting flowers at top. But these flowers never had time to do much by the time I wanted to clear the ground in June. I still had plenty of beans further down the plants though. So this year I've pinched out when I've seen the first beans developing, mine are about same size as yours now. Hopefully theyll put energy into the flowers/beans that are already there and not waste growing flowers that won't have time to produce. I'm planning to clear the ground by mid-June for next crops, but if I didn't need the space I could give them longer before pinching out.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I take out the tops just before the first beans are ready to pick and cook.  The tops are a real treat steamed with a knob of butter and a grind of black pepper … wonderful and something yiu can never buy in the shops 😋 

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





  • Blondie73Blondie73 Posts: 26
    edited May 2022
    Thank you I will definitely eat the tips, can't wait. Now to find homes for 38 tomato plants and 7 courgettes 😂. I have sown some french beans which I think can go in in July. 

    Appreciated ☺️
  • Blondie73Blondie73 Posts: 26
    I do it every year. The first lot too early and don't germinate so I sow another three as insurance and end up with too many. I do give them away though 😂
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