Broad Beans

<h2>Growing at Glebelands - Broad Beans </h2> <p><strong>Botanical name:</strong> <em>Vicia faba</em><br /> <strong>Family</strong> (for rotation)<strong>:</strong> Legumes<br /> 500-700 sds/kg - 1000 seeds=1200g - seed rate 1.4kg/100m&sup2;<br /> Seeds can keep 2-3 yrs<br /> <strong>Sowing depth:</strong> 4cm, min sowing temp 5&ordm;C, seedling emergence 7-21 days<br /> Yield can be 30t/hectare<br /> <strong>Best varieties</strong> (P Sumption2005) &ndash; Witkeim Manita, Witkeim, Green Windsor, Hangdown Green, Express </p> <p>Reputedly full of protein, fibre and vitamins A, C &amp; E</p> <p><strong>Site &amp; soil preference:</strong>Make sure soil not compacted. Hardy &ndash; but overwintered varieties may need protection Nov-Mar. Best to prepare stale seedbed.</p> <p><strong>Sowing &amp; harvest sequence:</strong>Overwintered sowings can take 28 wks to mature, spring sowings 12 wks. Harvest from plants under cover can be 2 weeks earlier. </p> <p>Can sow late Oct-Dec to overwinter (can be 1&rdquo; high over winter) &ndash; rows 2 ft apart &ndash; harvest beginning Jun to end Jul. Need well drained soil, not too cold &ndash; may need cloche protection on heavy clay soil. Best variety for this is Aquedulce. Autumn/winter sowings can avoid blackfly.</p> <p>Sow in spring as early as possible when beds ready &ndash; make successive sowings, as late as mid April, though later sowings may suffer from drought and are much more prone to blackfly. Best spacing so far: 2 double rows per bed, with seeds (staggered) 8-9 &rdquo; apart in each row &ndash; ie 4 rows altogether per bed (60 plants/10ft). Highest yields from 2 plants/ft &sup2; (Joy Larkcom) </p> <p>Good to flame weed (preferably after rain or irrigation, to get weed germination) before seedlings emerge. </p> <p>Harvest from end June &ndash; length of harvest depends on weather and ability to irrigate. </p> <p><strong>Cultivation:</strong> Hoe while plants small. Irrigate in dry spells to prevent plants becoming stressed. Water when in flower to prevent set drop &amp; fill pods &ndash; best done in evening to let plants take up as much moisture as possible (but at Glebelands obviously water whenever necessary &amp; possible!) Can pinch out top of plant when in full flower, or when 4 trusses formed to prevent blackfly infestation &amp; help pods swell &ndash; pinch out 4-6&rdquo; from top of plant &ndash; not absolutely necessary, but can help against pests!</p> <p><strong>Harvesting: </strong>Need to pick frequently to keep plants producing and avoid pods becoming hard. Pick when beans quite large in pods -customers don&rsquo;t want little beans! &ndash; if unsure, open a few before commencing to harvest. However, avoid pods becoming old and tough. </p> <p>Pick straight into boxes, keep boxes clean and stackable.</p> <p><strong>Other notes: </strong>Fungal disease chocolate spot can be problem on badly grown, overcrowded plants, or plants with insufficient moisture &ndash; avoid these conditions by ensuring soil fertile, spacing good and irrigate when necessary. Mild attacks usually only affect stems and foliage. </p>

<h2>Growing at Glebelands - Broad Beans </h2> <p><strong>Botanical name:</strong> <em>Vicia faba</em><br /> <strong>Family</strong> (for rotation)<strong>:</strong> Legumes<br /> 500-700 sds/kg - 1000 seeds=1200g - seed rate 1.4kg/100m²<br /> Seeds can keep 2-3 yrs<br /> <strong>Sowing depth:</strong> 4cm, min sowing temp 5ºC, seedling emergence 7-21 days<br /> Yield can be 30t/hectare<br /> <strong>Best varieties</strong> (P Sumption2005) – Witkeim Manita, Witkeim, Green Windsor, Hangdown Green, Express </p> <p>Reputedly full of protein, fibre and vitamins A, C &amp; E</p> <p><strong>Site &amp; soil preference:</strong>Make sure soil not compacted. Hardy – but overwintered varieties may need protection Nov-Mar. Best to prepare stale seedbed.</p> <p><strong>Sowing &amp; harvest sequence:</strong>Overwintered sowings can take 28 wks to mature, spring sowings 12 wks. Harvest from plants under cover can be 2 weeks earlier. </p> <p>Can sow late Oct-Dec to overwinter (can be 1” high over winter) – rows 2 ft apart – harvest beginning Jun to end Jul. Need well drained soil, not too cold – may need cloche protection on heavy clay soil. Best variety for this is Aquedulce. Autumn/winter sowings can avoid blackfly.</p> <p>Sow in spring as early as possible when beds ready – make successive sowings, as late as mid April, though later sowings may suffer from drought and are much more prone to blackfly. Best spacing so far: 2 double rows per bed, with seeds (staggered) 8-9 ” apart in each row – ie 4 rows altogether per bed (60 plants/10ft). Highest yields from 2 plants/ft ² (Joy Larkcom) </p> <p>Good to flame weed (preferably after rain or irrigation, to get weed germination) before seedlings emerge. </p> <p>Harvest from end June – length of harvest depends on weather and ability to irrigate. </p> <p><strong>Cultivation:</strong> Hoe while plants small. Irrigate in dry spells to prevent plants becoming stressed. Water when in flower to prevent set drop &amp; fill pods – best done in evening to let plants take up as much moisture as possible (but at Glebelands obviously water whenever necessary &amp; possible!) Can pinch out top of plant when in full flower, or when 4 trusses formed to prevent blackfly infestation &amp; help pods swell – pinch out 4-6” from top of plant – not absolutely necessary, but can help against pests!</p> <p><strong>Harvesting: </strong>Need to pick frequently to keep plants producing and avoid pods becoming hard. Pick when beans quite large in pods -customers don’t want little beans! – if unsure, open a few before commencing to harvest. However, avoid pods becoming old and tough. </p> <p>Pick straight into boxes, keep boxes clean and stackable.</p> <p><strong>Other notes: </strong>Fungal disease chocolate spot can be problem on badly grown, overcrowded plants, or plants with insufficient moisture – avoid these conditions by ensuring soil fertile, spacing good and irrigate when necessary. Mild attacks usually only affect stems and foliage. </p>