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Broad Beans

Colin Jordan2Colin Jordan2 Posts: 1
in Problem solving

Broad Beans sown last autumn now in full flower are not setting at all, what could be the problem?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Have you noticed any bees around them?  If not, give the stems a bit of a shake.  They are self-pollinating but the flowers need 'triggering' (they are sort of like a loaded spring) before the pollen can get to the anther and bees usually 'trip' the mechanism.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    I find that like runner beans, broad beans benefit from moist soil at flowering time - if you've had the dry spell that we've had, a good watering might help and certainly wouldn't do any harm. 


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





  • amblamamblam Posts: 1

    Hi

    I planted mine in autumn, but all I have is 1 to 2 foot plants, now in flower? Should I just dig up and start again?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    That's what you're supposed to have - the flowers will be pollinated and then the beans will form. image

    First this

    image

     Then these

    image

     image


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





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