Broad beans are one of the few crops that actually improve the soil they grow in, fixing nitrogen as they go.
Broad beans are one of the earliest crops of the year, with autumn-sown plants overwintering to flower and crop well ahead of a spring sowing. Pinching out the growing tips once flowering starts helps deter blackfly, which target the soft new growth.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in February | Sow in March | Sow in October | Sow in November | ||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in May | Harvest in June | ||||||||||
| Protect | Protect in January | Protect in December |
Care details
- Sow February – March
Or sow now for a standard summer crop.
- Harvest May – June
Pick pods while young — don’t let them get tough.
- Sow October – November
Sow a hardy autumn variety for an earlier crop next year.
- Protect December – January
Fleece young autumn-sown plants in hard frosts.
Growing tips & common problems
- Pinch out the growing tips once the first flowers open — this is the single most effective way to deter blackfly.
- Support tall varieties with canes and string before they're needed; a wind-flattened row is hard to right again.
- Pick young and often for the sweetest pods — left too long, the beans inside turn starchy and tough.
Grows well with
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