GROW BROAD BEANS

Have you ever walked past broad bean plants in full spring flower and been knocked sideways by their delicious scent? Add to this the arrival of the first tiny pods and sweet beans when there’s little else to harvest, and these plants are worth making room for. Early harvests are part of their charm, so it makes sense to go for an extra-early harvest in May rather than late June. The best route to this is an autumn sowing between midOctober and early November. By sowing this late, there’s still sufficient warmth and light for beans to germinate and produce short, stocky plants for overwintering but they won’t rush to put on height – lanky plants are more likely to get damaged by cold. Dont forget to choose a hardy autumn cultivar (see below).

Step by step 1 Grow in a sunny spot

Choose a sunny, sheltered bed, on well-drained soil. Seed and young plants might rot if they sit in the cold and wet, and exposed sites risk plants being battered by winter gales.

2 Sow a double row

Leave 20cm (8in) between seeds, and sow in double rows. Keep fleece handy and if severe frosts are forecast, drape it lightly over small plants or over cane supports for taller-growing beans.

3 Pop in supports

Plants may look pretty unwell over winter, but don’t lose faith because it’s amazing how they rev into growth in spring. Once they start moving upwards add a couple of circles of twine and stakes on the corners to act as a loose corset around each double row.