What are Borlotti Beans?

• Borlotti Beans are a classic Italian bean and are also known as Roman, Cranberry, Saluggia or Rosecoco beans
• beans are plump
• variegated, pinkish red splodges on white, (once cooked, the speckled markings disappear) Read More »

The broad bean variety, Express, was planted in the vegetable garden today. Read More »

Farming Friends & TopVeg have now collaborated to create a How To Grow Broad Beans growing card.

Click on the image to enlarge and if you wish to print off this growing card, right click on the enlarged image and then click print picture to print out a copy. Read More »

The favourite bean poll has been running for a month, and 54 people have taken part. Beans are easy to grow in the vegetable garden, and there is such a good selection to choose from, that it is often difficult to decide which to grow. Read More »

The vegetable garden can be prepared now, for sowing broad beans in November.

When the ground is clear of rubbish and all plant material, it can be covered with a sheet to keep the rain off. Read More »

Runner beans are ready to pick when they are about 20 cm long. The runner bean has bunches of flowers which mature at different rates. So each bean on the stalk is a different age. To harvest beans when they are ready, but not too old, the beans have to be picked every day. If the runner beans are too old when picked, they become fibrous and stringy, and unpleasant to eat. Also, the maturing beans will send a signal to stop further flowers being produced, so less beans will develop. Read More »

We have just had the final lot of Broad Beans in the Vegetable Garden. They have been marvellous.

The first lot of Broad Beans were sown in November. The third and final planting was at the end of March which spread the harvest well.

Picking started on 26 June from those planted in November. So we have been harvesting broad beans from the vegetable garden for 8 weeks. The French Beans are now producing well, and make a pleasant change. At least French Beans do not need podding and can be thrown straight into the pan.

The final lot of climbing French beans were planted out on 18 July. They were put into the broad bean patch when it had been cleared. The broad beans were cut off at ground level, to avoid disturbing the wet soil. The nitrogen rich nodules that formed on the broad bean roots will hopefully feed the french beans.

This is a photo of the planting hole next to the broad bean stump.

The french beans were planted in pots, and knocked out of the pot before planting.

Read More »

The bean row has a succession of beans, starting with broad beans planted in November, followed by two later plantings of broad beans, ending with runner beans and french beans.

The early broad beans are now over. The second planting of broad beans, Sutton, have suffered from Chocolate Spot. Read More »

The early broad beans, planted in November, have cropped heavily but are now over, & will be replaced with runner beans.

The broad beans went into good soil with a good structure. Thanks to the bed system, this soil has not been trodden on, because the plants can be harvested from the paths alongside the beds. So no cultivation work is necessary. There are no weeds, and therefore the soil need not be disturbed.

The soil is very wet from recent rains, and would easily loose its structure if moved.

The broad beans will be cut off at soil level, and the runner beans will be transplanted directly into the broad bean patch.