Despite my most recent columns being about how plants tend to stop growing at this time of year and what to do during the dormant winter period, there are some that – somewhat miraculously – defy these seasonal patterns. One such crop is the broad bean, which, I have to admit, I’m not a great fan of – that’s why I rarely write about them. But I won’t let my own tastes get in the way of sharing these magical beans with you.
Broad beans – or fava beans – can be grown when warm-weather climbing beans cannot. Hardy varieties – Aquadulce Claudia is a popular choice – can be sown now and will emerge in a few weeks, if protected from the weather using some fleece or a cloche. If you’re based in a colder region, you may be better off waiting until early spring to start growing, when you also get to choose from a wider range of varieties, including Sutton Dwarf, which can be grown in containers and small spaces, or Crimson Flowered, which produce deep pink flowers instead of the traditional white-and-black ones.
Broad beans prefer free-draining, fertile soil, and many gardeners sow their broad beans directly into the ground, but I would start them in pots given how clay-dominant my plot’s soil is. As with all legumes, these crops need room to push their roots downwards, so root trainers (or loo roll tubes) work best. Push the seeds about 5cm deep and space at least 15cm apart, more if you’ve chosen a larger variety. They like a sunny, sheltered spot but ask for very little other than being kept free of weed competition and to be watered well, especially when producing their flowers and pods. Once your broad bean plants have got going, they may benefit from the support of a stake as the larger varieties can grow well over a metre tall.
Broad beans are a fairly trouble-free crop, but you may need to protect your yet-to-germinate seeds from hungry mice. Come spring and summer, sap-sucking aphids – most often, black bean aphid – are attracted to and can cluster densely over their tender new growth, sometimes stunting the plant. Fortunately, pinching out the new growth is one way to thwart an infestation.
These tender tips are delicious in a salad or lightly sauteed. Autumn-sown broad beans can start producing pods by May, whereas those sown and grown from early spring will crop in summer. You can pick broad bean pods at two stages: when they are immature to be eaten whole or when the pods have swollen slightly – the beans harvested from them will be sweet and tender.
Another magic thing about broad beans is they’re beneficial for the soil, so when the harvest has dwindled, chop down the plant but leave the roots in the ground where they’ll boost nitrogen levels for the crop that follows.
