OwnGrown

Not at all good this year! Not sure exactly why but they were hit hard by a very heavy rain storm when may flowers were knocked off and plants partly flattened. I also think the manuring may have been overdone a little. Anyway we shall have, and are having, some beans but not as many as we should.

Sowed Masterpiece Green Longpod earlier than last year in mid March - 5cms (2″) deep, 10cms (4″) apart, in rows 30 cms (12″) wide. They will start appearing after about 3 weeks. They can be sown under cover earlier in pots or tubes and then transplanted to the final site. Different varieties are sown at different times - November to late winter / early spring.

Final pick of Broad Beans and Peas at end of July when all plants were pulled up and put on compost heap. They are over sooner than usual this year and the total yield appears to have been lower due probably to the very hot summer.  

Started picking Broad Beans early July when the beans are tender and not too large.

Pinched out the tips of plants when the plants were about 4′ high and beans had started growing. This also helps control Black Fly that sit in the soft tips. Pinch out affected tips if any Black Fly are seen earlier.

Placed linked stakes in beans to support the plants in high winds

Sowed Masterpiece Green Longpod (shown here plus a few courgettes) late March - 5cms (2″) deep, 10cms (4″) apart, in rows 30 cms (12″) wide. They will start appearing after about 3 weeks. They can be sown under cover earlier in pots or tubes and then transplanted to the final site. Different varieties are sown at different times - November to late winter / early spring.