Broad bean setting

[ken]

This year, very much on the recommendation of people on the Forum, we've switched to a green-seeded broad bean. The variety is Witkiem. Yes, the beans are delicious. This is the query: the plants were covered with blossom, and set a lot of pods at the bottom of the stems. However, very few pods have set further up the stems. I'm just intrigues to know, is this likely to be because the plants reckoned they were carrying enough pods, or because the second half of May turned very cold and wet for us, after a warm start, and there may not have been many pollinating insects around?

[Johnboy]

Hi Ken,
Now thats the $64,000. question. Oh if only those beans could talk.!

[Wellie]

Hi Ken & JB,

Either the Johnson Longpod or Bunnyards Exhibition that I've grown (still don't know which - BAD GIRL!)
have sort of done that too...
The 'set' pods lower down have 3 or 4 pods per group.
The further up the stem you get, some pods have set, and other 'tried to' and never reached maturity and have started to turn yellow at an immature stage and die off.
Maybe the bumbles DID decide the weather wasn't to their liking and it all went pear-shaped from then on in, but looking at them 'as a whole' the cross between set and not-set is really QUITE RANDOM.....

Not sure if this helps your theory, but it's certainly an interesting question...
Wellie
X

[ken]

Thanks, Wellie. It sort of ties in, doesn't it?

And Johnboy, that cheque for $64,000 should be made out to my private account...

[Johnboy]

Oh Ken how you wish!!!