My two rows of them (sown on 3rd March) are well-established and growing quite rapidly now so I decided that it was time to remove the protective netting and to provide the plants with some support. Broad Bean plants are naturally quite floppy and are very prone to wind damage unless properly supported.
I had already put in place six stout wooden stakes: one at the end of each row, and one in the middle.These are to be the anchors for my support mechanism. What I do is tie some soft string to an end-post, loop it round the middle post, take it up to the other end and back again in similar fashion, so that I end up with two strings the width of the post apart (i.e. about 3cm). Each bean plant is therefore supported on both sides.
As the beans grow taller I will add more lines of strings higher up the posts - probably two more lines.
The bean flowers are just beginning to form. The prospect of delicious tender young beans is not too far away now...
Oh how I love broad beans!! I’ve just moved mine totally out of the greenhouse as they have grown to be 3+ foot high –and they are dwarf varieties!! They have been flowering for about 10 days but although I’ve put them out in the day time I haven’t dared risk them outside overnight until a few days ago. And of course, as you said, they promptly flopped over so I now need to support them. Roll on the formation of those plump pods...
ReplyDeleteMust admit that we don't support ours but then again on an allotment the floppy look isn't as much of a problem. have you noticed the perfume of broad bean flowers - it's lovely.
ReplyDeleteHave you found aphids in your garden? I recommend you carry out some measures for aphid repellent. My broad bean trees were damaged by hundreds of aphids. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteNot being a bean person, I had to look up what broad beans were. I am beginning to wonder if I can mash them in such a way that Phil does not know they are in the food we are eating, lol.
ReplyDeleteMashed beans with garlic!
DeleteI need to get to the allotment to check on my broad beans, they'll probably need some support by now too.
ReplyDeleteI've never made a serious attempt with broad beans, but I will get serious about them in the next year Promised.
ReplyDeleteI didn't do it last year and the beans fell over and I had to support them after the fact. I haven't put any supports in this year either. I really ought to before they collapse. I might just put them on the outsides of the bed. Not nearly as neat as yours but quick.
ReplyDeleteAh you've reminded me. I must plant the rest of my broad bean seeds today.
ReplyDeleteI did this method last year and it worked pretty well for me too.
This is a timely post for me. I have not grown broad beans until this year. Today they started to flop. So they need support? Thank you Mark. I was surprised as my uncle's broad beans were never supported so this was a unexpected seeing them softly bend..)))
ReplyDeleteThe blooms are lovely but another poster says they smell lovely. Will sniff tomorrow.
Great, timely blog post. Thank you.
I am not sure what broad beans are but I am going to grow some beans this yer for the first time. I love how tidy your garden is.
ReplyDeleteThat's a clever idea to provide support. I was thinking of staking them individually as I am growing them with tomatoes. Do you think it would be wise to take provide the same support to the tomatoes as well?
ReplyDeleteOh clever, clever! Love this idea - fox protection (can't get through the sticks) and support in one! I didn't know the plants could grow tall as I'm growing broad beans properly for the first time this year. (In the past I've grown broad beans with the kids here but they took ages to grow, then got covered in blackfly so weren't popular and were rather neglected after they'd flowered.) The plants are about 8 inches high at the moment and just beginning to form flowers so it's very good timing to come across your idea Mark, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWonderful beans!
ReplyDeleteLooking good!
Have a blessed day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
A good idea to string the ropes . The plants are growing well.
ReplyDeletewhile growing them in containers on the Terrace it is necessary to grow in a number of pots, I suppose. I had tried with only two plants last year.:-)
Thanks for sharing.
I use a very similar method to grow or should that be harness cucumbers. My broad beans are just germinating at the moment, but I don't usually give them much support.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Mark. I usually just wind twine around the block of broadbeans. This should work much better, especially as the variety of seed I accidentally bought this time around grows up to 2m and it's in a well-raised bed! I've only grown the dwarf variety, before. I'm vertically challenged so I expect the ones at the top will be harvested for drying, eventually.
ReplyDeletei love broad beans and only really cooked them for the first time last year... this year my neighbour gave me 8 plants that i've popped into the garden randomly and they are doing really well... no beans forming yet but we're much cooler up here than you, so I reckon another week!
ReplyDeleteClever solution! And economical as well!
ReplyDeleteThat's usually the way I support mine when I plant in a block - not growing many this year so I am supporting singley.
ReplyDeleteUsed Mr Fothergills Broad Beans Bunyards Exhibition.Planted 9 beans in each of two pots. First pot 8th Feb second pot 12th Feb. Both pots of beans full of Flowers, and at least 4ft high.Supported with a Cane each and tied with Velco Garden Tape to each cane, as they grew.
ReplyDeleteHope that I get beans, as this is my first time.
Wish that I could add a photograph
Les