Kitchen Garden Forum

Went up the plot tonight, no need to water after last nights downpour except in the greenhouse, however, a neighbour had picked out the tops of his second lot of broad beans, is there a reason for this, I couldn't ask him as he works shifts and I don't see him that often. is it to stop them bolting or something.

Compo

It helps to prevent blackfly, I think.

Three good reasons to nip off the growing points of broadies:

Blackfly prefer the growing points, so if these are nipped off they go elsewhere (mostly )

The 'stopped' plant can concentrate on growing your beans

You get lovely bean tops for tea (cooked/eaten like spinach) - one of the first treats of true summer. Cook and eat like spinach

Yes - all of the above - except this year we haven't seen any sign of blackfly for the first time in 20 years.

Hi Sprout,
I agree with what you say but Blackfly will not only go for the growing points and if you have removed these then they, as sod's law decrees, affect other parts of the plant. It is for this reason that I do not remove the growing tips from all plants.
Beans tips are not to everybodies taste but they certainly are mine. Eaten with a couple of poached eggs on the top they are nice with home made bread and butter.

Mmmm, you're making me hungry.

Johnboy wrote:It is for this reason that I do not remove the growing tips from all plants.

That's a good idea, I'll leave a few sacrificial bean tops just in case this year