broad beans

l know this may seem stupid to you all but what do l do with my broad beans,do l stake them as one or two seemed to have drooped down but now are trying to come upright,also l believe l have to pick out the tops, but when?

 

I think the idea of picking the tops out is because this is where aphids seem to collect, but it isn't essential. I didn't do it and mine are producing great beans!
They do usually need some support, much easier to see what's going on if they are encouraged to be vertical. I usually put a couple of stakes at each end of the row, and string between these.

 

Thanks Liz

 

If you cut off the stems down near ground level when the first flush of beans has finished you'll have a good chance of some basal growth emerging and some more beans to eat

And when the frost finally kills them, just cut off the tops and dig in the roots. The roots fix nitrogen in the soil which should be good for next year's brassica crop.

 

WOW! I never knew that, thanks for the tip.will try next year. I put broad beans down in nov. last year and I had a good crop. on that patch I am now growing carrots

 

If your Broad Beans are drooping it could be because they are dry at the roots.

If you have picked all the beans,then unless they are to left to collect dry seeds then the crop can be cut down to ground level or pulled up.

Ours have suffered from chocolate spot this year,though we have had a good crop.

We have pulled them up and burnt all the stems.

We shall be growing them in a differant place next year.

Glad to have you on board Macleaf

Kandy

 

Thanks Guys,