Kitchen Garden Forum

hi folks, im new to this g.y.o game so there will be many more questions like this from me.
do i need to support dwarf broad beans as you have to with other taller bb plants.

Hi p.a., the short answer is no - but if you have a very windy plot, it's worth putting a stake at the end of each row/corner of each block, and tying string around the row/block about one foot off the ground. I grow The Sutton because my plot is VERY windy

Thanks sprout, they are in a sheltered spot so no need to stake which is one job less on my very long list.!!!
p.s. any other tips on dwarf b.b's......such as pinching out, standing on one leg whilst watering etc,etc..!!!!!!

lol no p.a., dwarf broadies are good boys and gals and trouble free. I eat the broadies from The Sutton when they reach little finger size - pods and all. You don't have to pinch out - but who can resist bean tops? Schluppety schlupp

Excuse my ignorance. Are bean tops quite a good vegto eat and how are they cooked
Brenjon

Hi Brenjon,
Yes Broad Bean tops are super to eat. I always steam mine and have a couple of poached eggs on top and eat with Home Made Bread and Butter. (Jersey Butter made in the village)

Agreed, Johnboy but perhaps only if you avoid the blackfly (aphid), I don't like that sort of added protein. I think you or somebody else has alrady advised on the companion planting way of coping with them.
With my recent subscription to Garden answers I got 2 free gifts, Geoff Hamilton's CDROM on (ornamental) plant finder, and Monty Don's so-called (don't laugh) complete gardener which he freely admits that he could only write for Dorling Kindersley by getting help in to do his gardening, help with photographs, index, etc. I waved it in front of Mrs and, bless her, she is dutifully slogging through it. What is relevant here is that he states that a crop of broad beans is good for the soil, not only in fixing notrogen and by the production of a generous amount of haulm but also he reckons that the roots go deeper than almost any other crop and bring up nutrients otherwise not available. That's a new one on me, but it needs cross-checking before accepting it. Any clues?
Allan