Broad beans
How do I sow broad beans outdoors?
To sow broad beans outdoors, choose a sunny, well-drained spot. The best time to sow broad beans is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Before sowing, loosen the soil by spading and removing weeds. Avoid adding fertiliser, as broad beans fix nitrogen from the air and don't need it.
Sow the broad bean seeds about 5-10 cm apart, to a depth of 5 cm. Make sure you water them regularly to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and limit weed growth.
Beware of slugs and aphids, which can attack broad bean plants. You can keep them away by planting nasturtiums nearby, or by spraying a mixture of water and black soap on the leaves. Harvest the broad beans when the pods are well formed, before they become too hard.
How to harvest beans
Beans are generally harvested in spring, between May and July depending on the region. It is important to harvest the beans when the pods are still young and the seeds are well formed. To tell if the beans are ready to be harvested, simply squeeze them lightly: if the pod is soft, it's ready. When harvesting, it is best to cut the pods with secateurs to avoid damaging the plant. Once harvested, the beans can be kept in the fridge for a few days, but it is advisable to eat them quickly to benefit from their freshness and nutritional qualities. You can also freeze them to keep them for longer and enjoy them all year round.
Broad beans
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Seed vegetables
- Botanical Family : Fabaceae (papilionaceae / legumes)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
- Adult Height : 50 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 3 cm
- Plant Spacing : 10 cm
- Row Spacing : 40 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Self-pollinating
- Propagation : Sowing