At a Glance
- Variety:Broad Beans
Disease resistant.
Suited for both autumn and spring sowings.
Fast growing and quick to mature if sown in spring.
Sowing Time
Indoors: January – March
Outdoors: March – April or October – November
Sowing Indoors
From January – March seeds can be sown individually in 8cm (3in) pots of seed compost. After sowing, place pots in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Keep moist but not saturated. Gradually accustom plants to outside conditions before setting them out from April onwards to their cropping positions at the spacing given above. This often gives an earlier crop than outdoor sowings.
Sow Outdoors
Sow individually 5cm (2in) deep and 10cm (4in) apart. Broad beans are usually sown in double rows about 25cm (10in) apart. Allow 60cm (24in) between each set of double rows.
Harvest
May – August. Pick them as young as possible for the very best flavour. When very young, they can be cooked and eaten in their pods. Broad beans are delicious cooked, cooled and used in salads too.
