Broad bean is one of the delicious legume that is widely grown as vegetable. The legume can be grown in a relatively small area of garden spot. To grow broad beans, sow seeds 2 inches deep in double rows. Broad bean seeds should be planted at a distance of about 6-8 inches apart. Water immediately after sowing your seeds to speed up the germination process. Autumn sown Broad beans can be ready for harvesting before 24 weeks.
For more detailed information about growing Broad beans from seeds, follow along with this step by step instructions on how to grow grow Broad beans.
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What is Broad beans?
Broad beans, scientifically known as Vicia faba, is one of the species of flowering plants in the family fabaceae or legume family. The crop is widely utilized as food for human consumption and also to improve soil fertility.
However, there are some cultivars that are mainly grown for feeding other animals such as horse. These cultivars include tick bean and field bean.
Broad beans do well in zones 2 through 7. It thrives well in full sun and in soil that is averagely fertile. The pH for optimal growth is between (6.2 to 6.8). And the temperatures for healthy growth range between 60°-65°F.
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With this basic information about Broad bean, let us look at how to grow Broad beans. But before then, here are some important growing tips:
What is best way to grow broad beans?
The best way to grow Broad beans is to sow seeds in averagely fertile soil with pH that is near neutral. Broad beans love full sun and also need to be planted in double rows. But, avoid planting broad beans in wet soil as Broad beans do not like waterlogged area.
What are the best Broad beans to grow?
The best varieties of Broad beans that are good for cultivation include Aquadulce Claudia, Bunyards Exhibition, and Masterpiece Green Longpod. Aquadulce variety is very Hardy, which is great for autumn planting. Bunyards Exhibition on the other hand is sweet and has flavor with a delicate texture. While Masterpiece Green Longpod is flavored, sweet, and nutty and has y high yield.
Do Broad beans need a trellis?
Yes, broad beans need to be supported with trellis. When the broad beans start to grow, stake them with sticks or canes. It is important to note that broad beans are not climbers. So, you need to stake each plant individually with sticks.
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Soak Broad beans before planting
Another important growing tip you need to know is soaking the broad bean seeds before planting. Soaking seeds before sowing helps speed up the germination process. Soak your seeds for about 12 to 24 hours in warm water. This helps soften the seed coat and allow quicker germination.
How long do Broad beans take to germinate
If you provide all the conditions necessary for germination, your broad beans will begin to germinate after 8-10 days. However, if you plant your broad bean seeds around November, your seeds may take longer period of time before they can germinate. So, planting early and at the growing season is also a key to faster germination.
With these few tips about growing Broad beans, let us look at how to grow them.
How to grow broad beans from seeds
Broad beans can be grown in greenhouse, containers, and garden ground. However, the Broad beans prefer garden soil. You can choose to grow your broad bean in greenhouse or containers if you start your seeds early.
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In this article, I will show you how to grow Broad beans in both garden spot and containers.
Let’s get started.
How to grow Broad beans in a garden
Here is a step by step instructions:
1. Choose the right Broad bean variety: the first step to growing a successful Broad beans is to choose good variety and plant. A good variety of Broad bean is one that is well adopted to common pests and diseases.
You can find these types of varieties from your local gardeners. You can also choose from the above varieties I mentioned above. These varieties are also good and heirloom.
2. Choose the right planting time: start your broad beans at the right time. Broad bean is considered a spring crop. Broad bean is usually planted in spring from the month of February to April. But, some common varieties bof Broad beans are very hardy, and these varieties are usually planted in autumn from October to November.
3. Choose the right garden spot: the next most important step is to choose a garden spot. Do not start your garden in poor garden spot. Locate your garden in spot with soil that has an average fertility.
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The place should be well flat and not waterlogged. The soil should be well-drained and must have a pH that is near neutral. Do not start your garden in shaded area and waterlogged. The place should be in full sun.
4. Prepare the garden spot: the next step is to prepare the garden spot for sowing your broad seeds. Broad beans do well in double rows. So, loosen the top 10 inches of the soil and prepare double rows.
Space double rows about 8 inches apart. And if you are adding more double rows, leave about 24 inches of space between double rows. This space is important because it helps allow air to properly pass in and out of the garden.
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5. Sow your broad bean seeds: after you finish preparing the garden spot, sow your seeds. Sow Broad bean seeds 2 inches deep. Space planting holes about 6 inches apart.
Water immediately after planting the Broad bean seeds. Watering helps moisten the garden soil and seeds, which in turn quicken germination.
6. Take care of your broad bean garden: Broad bean just like other legumes do not like much care. If the soil is good, you need to supplement the plants with fertilizer. Water regularly when the garden soil dry up. But, avoid flooding your garden as this can attract pests and damage your plants.
This is how to grow Broad beans in the garden. Let’s now look at how to grow Broad beans in pots.
How to grow Broad beans in pots
Growing your broad beans in containers can give you a heads start and help you harvest early. You can sow seeds in containers indoors earlier before the growing season.
To grow Broad beans in containers, here is a step by step instructions:
1. Choose the right containers with reasonable sizes: find and buy pots that are well-drained. For this purpose, buy containers that are made from ceramic material. The containers should be large enough.
2. Fill the containers with good soil mixes: fill the containers with potting mixes. Do not use garden soil. Garden soil can contains weed seeds and pathogens.
However, if you want to use the garden soil, make sure you sterilize the soil before adding. Mix the soil with compost, sand, and agricultural lime if the soil is too acidic.
3. Sow your broad bean seeds: sow your broad bean seeds 2 inches deep. Attach stake or stick to every pot to support the Broad bean when they started growing. Water immediately after sowing seeds to promote faster germination.
4. Take care of your broad beans: ensure that you water your broad bean plants timely and gently. Feed them timely with all purpose compost. Take them out when the weather is too cold. And it is hot outside, bring them back to inside.
How long do Broad beans take to grow?
Under normal growing conditions, a healthy Broad bean plants can take 75-90 days from planting to harvesting. However, some varieties of Broad bean can take longer or less than what I have stated here. For instance, a fall-planted Broad bean variety usually takes about 240 days to become ready.
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How to pinch out Broad beans
You can pinch out your Broad beans when the young beans appear at the base of Broad bean plants. Pinch out the growing tips with two leaves attached. Pinching out Broad beans is done to prevent black bean aphids infestation and also encourage Broad bean plant to direct all the food energy to growing large pods instead of putting the energy in growing leaves and other vegetative organs.
How to support Broad beans
When the Broad beana begin to grow into plants, you need to support them. This is because Broad beans are not climbers. To support Broad bean plants, use about 50 inches of sticks to enclose the whole rows. Place the sticks at 24 inches intervals around the rows. Tie 3 layers of string around the sticks.
How to harvest broad beans
Your Broad beans can be ready to harvest from late spring to mid-summer. However, this depends on the which time you planted your broad beans and also the variety you used.
You can harvest the young pods when the pods are about 7.5cm (3in) tall. These pods can be enjoyed as vegetables in salad when cooked.
Ensure that you check your broad beans timely. This is because pods mature quickly and so you can pick those that are already and give room for others to grow.
When you are picking your broad bean pods to shell, leave the pods on the parent Broad beans until the beans are visible through the pod. However, don’t also wait fortoo long.
Broad beans recipe
Broad beans can be enjoyed in different ways. The young tender leaves and pods can be cooked and enjoyed in salad. Broad beans can also be enjoyed with tomatoes and burrata as a broad beans flecked salsa Verde. It can also be enjoyed with other legumes such as peas.
Broad beans growing problems
The most common problems broad beans growers usually encounter are pests and diseases. Let us look at the pests and diseases of Broad beans below.
Pests and diseases of Broad beans
1. Black bean aphids: This is the common pests of Broad beans that cause broad beans leaves to be stunted.
2. Pea and bean weevil: this is a tiny insect pest of Broad beans, which causes scalloped appearance on leaves by biting and making U-shaped holes on the leaves.
How to protect Broad beans pests
You can protect black bean aphid by companion planting and planting of resistant varieties. If your plants are attacked by Black bean aphids, pinch out where the black bean aphid infested. You can also handpick the aphids if they are not plenty.
On the other hand, the bean weevil can also be protected by planting resistant varieties and covering with fleece.
1. Chocolate spot: chocolate spot is a fungal diseases, which affect Broad beans by causing brown spots and streaks on the Broad beans stems and pods.
2. Broad beans rust: broad bean rust is another fungal disease that affect Broad beans. However, Broad bean is more damaging than chocolate spot. The disease affect Broad beans by causing dark brown, small, and dusty spots. Ad sometimes covered with a pale yellow Halo.
How to protect Broad beans from diseases
Make space between plants and rows to allow air to properly pass in and out of the garden. Affected plants should be destroyed immediately. Taking these measures can help control broad bean rust.
Chocolate spot is also caused by later k of ventilation. So, leave enough space that allows proper airflow in the garden.
Conclusion
In this article, I looked at how to grow Broad beans from seeds. I hope the hleps you in understanding how to grow Broad beans from seeds. Let me know if you have any questions.
