Suttons offer a wide range of Broad Bean varieties that can be sown both early spring and autumn. The autumn sown beans help maintain soil structure throughout the dark months and provide a high yield crop early summer. Allotments in winter are full of varieties of broad bean such as ‘The Sutton’ but if you have no space try ‘Robin Hood’ in containers on balcony or patio.
How to grow Broad Beans from seed
- In spring when the soil is starting to warm, Sow broad bean seeds directly into prepared soil, which has had plenty of compost or Organic matter dug into. Drills, straight lines marked with a garden line, this is especially important in spring so can tell the beans from the weeds
- If sown indoors, such as a propagator use root trainer pots as this will minimise root disturbance when planting out
- Beans like their feet wet so attention to watering and keeping the soil damp is important. Water early morning or at dusk to avoid the water transpiring into the atmosphere
- A good practice is to pinch out tips once your seeds start to grow, as this will reduce Blackfly infestations. The tips are tasty too, so munch or put in a salad
- Encourage Aphid/Blackfly predators like Ladybirds and Hoverflies by planting Fennel
Growing broad beans in pots
The Dwarf variety of broad bean, Robin Hood, will provide you with a good crop of nutritious beans that taste far superior to any you'll find at the supermarket!
- Dwarf type for small spaces
- Suitable for summer and autumn cropping
- Good tolerance to soil-borne diseases
Broad Bean plants will enjoy a regular Liquid feed. Keeping their surface roots from drying out is crucial for Beans, as they grow apply an organic Mulch . Supporting them with canes might help once they get large but if they are planted in blocks they can self-support. Dig them into the soil after they are spent as they are incredibly good for soil structure.
Buy broad bean seeds UK from Suttons
