Poor yield from Broad Beans

[Cider Boys]

We have just finished picking our first broad beans, they were Aqualdulce which we sowed in early October and as expected because of the low amount of blossom the yield is poor. Last year we were getting more off two rows than the whole patch shown below, pictured a few weeks ago after flowering.




We also planted some in November and February which are not looking much better. I think all the frosts have affected them.

I wonder how other gardeners’ autumn sowed beans have faired this year.

Thanks
Barney

[Tel]

Hi,
Used to plant this variety in late autumn many years ago when winters were winters (lost a lot)! Still love 'em and current spring sown crop are over knee high & flowering!

[Johnboy]

Hi Barney,
Due to heavy and late frosts I gave up growing Aquadulche and now do not start planting seed until early March and I now grow Masterpiece Green Longpod and now really prefer the green varieties.
I miss the early beans as I grew them successfully in Hertfordshire many years ago but here they were a waste of time, effort and space.

[Allan]

We grow The Sutton in a spare tunnel each year for an early crop, it has yet to fail us but special techniques to overcome mouse problem as previously discussed. The first pickings will be any day now. MGL is my choice too for outdoors.
Allan

[Carole B.]

I grow Aquadulce from a late October sowing,they overwintered well at about 2"high,grew on well,started flowering and are now....horizontal...thanks wind.

[Johnboy]

Hi Carole,
Before my windbreaks had grew sufficiently to be of any use I experimented with the use of horizontally placed Pig Netting in three layers. It works well but is an abolute swine to erect but it is very effective. I feel sure a similar method could be used with large squared Bean Netting but when I did my experiments this medium was not available so it shows how long ago that was!

[Cider Boys]

I think we will try the seeds that Johnboy and Allan recommends next year and Allan’s method of growing in a polytunnel sounds good but just how do you prevent mice damage?

Johnboy, I like the idea that pig netting is a swine to erect! A good idea though.

Carole, we have also suffered a lot from wind damage and in past years neighbouring farmers have lost the whole crop from strong winds. Like most things in horticulture it is a case of swings and roundabouts and Tel (when winters were winters) is right because we have not had any real winters for many years now.

We rely on our early beans to provide a little pocket money for us to purchase another old implement to add to our growing heap of rusty iron. This year we were hoping to get a Ferguson potato spinner but perhaps I will get another potato fork instead!

All the best

Barney

[Carole B.]

Thanks for the idea Johnboy,I'm now thinking of making mobile windbreaks with a net on a frame that I can bang in on the end of vulnerable beds over winter (the council aren't keen on fencing round plots)That might help give protection during the worst weather.

[jane E]

I've tried the red epicure broad bean this year. Does anyone know it? What is it's taste like? It seems to have grown well - plenty of flowers.I wasn't early planting.