Broadbean question

[chucks]

Haven't tried growing broadbeans before and I was wondering how many plants would be sufficient a family of 4?

I've got aquadulce. What height do they grow to?

Thanks

[zazen999]

Depends on how much you like them to be honest; and whether you want them for a week's food, a month or a year or for freezing/storage.

Why not grow say, 20 or 40 plants and see if you want more or less next year. They never last long enough in my opinion and I could easily grow double what I do.

They grow to about 2 to 3 feet tall.

[chucks]

Cheers. Will give them a try.

[Leeds_lad]

I had 4 plants last year and they easily fed a family of 5.

[Two_Sheds]

^ the kids didn't like them then?
I don't know how many I grow, but I reckon it's about 80-100 plants. I find they don't freeze well (they go black round the edges after a few months) so last year I pickled some. Haven't tasted them yet, really ought to

[northepaul]

I grew around 15 plants last year - and I am pretty much the only one who eats them - so it was enough for me to keep going and freeze some (better go and check them, thanks TS).

I had a lot of problems with blackfly, though.

[rustylady]

I had 4 plants last year and they easily fed a family of 5.

Just one meal, I presume.

[Bren In Pots]

I grew 48 plants last year and this year I'm doubling that amount, my original seeds were courtesy of TS so I'm not sure what variety mine are.

[lottie dolly]

I grow lots of them,at least 3 packets,and only 2 of us,have never had a problem in the freezer ,i don't blanch either,we tend to get a lot of flowers that gives a false impession of to any beans,but do not be fooled,some only make pea size due to weather and black fly,plus i do not wait for them to get monsters,at the end of the day,it all depends on what room you have to spare,and your love of the bean.

[Leeds_lad]

No, 4 plants actually gave me a bumper crop. The plants ended up over 6 foot high and were swarmed with beans. The variety was masterpiece green longpod. Got a few weeks worth of meals out of them

[Leeds_lad]

nasturtiums are your answer about black fly. Planted mine in pots away from my crops, they were swarmed so bad it looked like someone had thrown dirt all over them, but not even a single one on anything else!

[lottie dolly]

nasturtiums are your answer about black fly. Planted mine in pots away from my crops, they were swarmed so bad it looked like someone had thrown dirt all over them, but not even a single one on anything else!

you were extremly luck,last year was really bad for them though,nothing worked on mine,BUT,i did notice it was the later plantings that got the worse hit,so l have got an earler start this year,things got delays last ,due to the mice raiding the seeds,got it licked now,

[chucks]

Cheers for all the replies. Am going to sow 40 and see how it goes. Will try the nasturtiums idea as well. Would be interested to hear how the pickled ones taste

[Leeds_lad]

Ah, those dam mice! luckily my cat is useful for something other than digging up and pooping on my beds

[Leeds_lad]

Another good thing about nasturtiums chuck is the flowers are really nice in salads. A note though, sow in pots, I did the error of planting one in a corner of one of my beds, it got huge! started to swarm everything, had to eventually pull him out