Broad beans

[Gman]

Spent years experimenting with varieties/planting times. Autumn sowing seemed logical but few plants survived, then I tried Field Beans and haven't grown a broad bean since.
Massive yield, totally winter hardy, delish beans up to 60 pods per plant. 3-4 sq. Metres of ground (and a large freezer) gives enough to keep a bean addict happy for a year. Support is an issue as they grow 6-8 feet but if planted in staggered rows, with an all round 6-8" separation and support all round they do OK (see pic). The few plants that do fall still produce when horizontal. The long growing time may be an issue, Oct-July. but they're worth it.
Interestingly when the plants are cropped and cut off at ground level garlic seems to do very well as a follow on without digging.

is this the same field beans that you see sold as green manure? After eating the pinched off tips of my broad beans last year (delicious!) I wondered about growing them just for greens, similar to growing pea shoots. But if field beans grow much taller, they might be better for greens. Anyone tried it?