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Friday, 24 May 2013

Broad Beans - successional sowing

"Successional sowing" means sowing the same type of seeds at different times, in order to be able to harvest the crop over a longer period than if the seeds were sown all at once. I know this is a good thing to do, but normally I'm not very good at it. I always start off with good intentions, but get impatient and sow too soon. This year I am trying harder!

I have sowed my Broad Beans in proper successional sowing style. I have three rows of these beans, of three different varieties, and I waited until one variety had germinated before sowing the next one, in other words several weeks apart. Even though the later-sown ones always catch up a bit, it ought to mean that I harvest beans over a period of at least a month - perhaps six weeks.

The evening sun was a bit harsh when I took this photo, but I still think it shows quite well the difference in size between the three rows: at left "Bunyard's Exhibition" (20 Apr); in the centre "Witkiem Manita" (29 Mar) and at the right "Aquadulce" (15 Feb).


In between the rows of Broad Beans there are rows of fast-growing Radishes, which will mature before the beans block out their light.


In my photos you can see the network of soft green string which is going to provide support for the growing beans, which are always a bit vulnerable to wind damage.


By the way, the successional sowing technique is also strongly recommended for salad crops, which mature quickly and often don't hold in good condition for long when mature. Vast rows of Lettuce may look nice, but there is only so much salad you can eat - and it doesn't freeze well!
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6 comments:

  1. becky308624 May 2013 at 18:01

    Looks like you got it right to me. I am going to have a larger garden soon :)

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  2. Sue Garrett24 May 2013 at 18:52

    We have two lots of broad beans planted and a third on its way in an attempt at succession. Hopefully the slow growing weather won't mean that they all catch up.

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  3. Esther Montgomery24 May 2013 at 19:01

    Trip wires for foxes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. flowerlady24 May 2013 at 19:48

    I am also trying to be good this year and today have planted my third lot of radish,beetroot,lettuce and spring onions.

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  5. Roger Brook - No Dig Gardener24 May 2013 at 21:52

    We love broad beans and eat them when they are small and tender right through to them getting old and floury.We also freeze them and eat them all year round!
    Apparently some people peel the skins off before cooking! Not us
    I am glad I successionally sowed my french beans last year, the weather was so hit and miss early on that some sowings hit the jackpot and at least one sowing completely failed because it was cold and very wet.

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  6. David27 May 2013 at 17:48

    A nice job in a limited space. I am interested in succession planting but it seems to be just two crops...early and late.

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