Welcome to the world of organic gardening, where the simple act of planting seeds can lead to a bounty of delicious and nutritious harvests! Today, we're diving into the heart of organic gardening, where dirt-stained hands and the promise of a bountiful harvest reign supreme. If you want to learn how to grow organic broad beans, you're in the right place. In this blog post, we'll be exploring step by step the art of cultivating organic broad beans – a no-nonsense, protein-packed addition to your garden that doesn't compromise on flavor or sustainability. No need for a green thumb; just a bit of grit, determination, and a whole lot of beans. So, buckle up as we get down and dirty, breaking down the essentials of growing organic broad beans. From choosing the right variety to outsmarting pesky pests, we're stripping away the fluff and getting straight to the soil-stained heart of it all. Let's get ready to sow, grow, and revel in the unapologetically robust world of organic broad bean cultivation!
Plant History
Broad bean has been grown around the Mediterranean for more than 8000 years and the ancient Egyptians widely cultivated this vegetable. In modern Egypt the recipe Ful medames consists of a delicious mix of mashed broad beans, lemon, garlic and olive oil.
Plant description
Broad bean is a bushy, hardy annual that can grow from 3 to 4½ feet tall. The broad bean has square stems with leaves divided into leaflets. Pods are 6 to 8 inches long and contain 4 to 6 flat, oval seeds that can be white, yellow, green, or pinkish-red.
The broad bean has a white flower that is splotched with brown. They love cool weather and full sun, broad bean can be grown in a variety of climates, and are an excellent source of protein and vitamins A, C and B. Rich in fiber and delicious, these are definitely worth growing in the garden. Broad beans contain an amino acid called L-dopa, which stimulates the brain to make dopamine {the chemical associated with happiness}.
Broad beans are also rich in potassium, which can have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Eating foods rich in potassium is the best way of maintaining healthy potassium levels, rather than taking supplements.
Broad Beans and Their Nitrogen Fixing Properties
Broad beans "Fava beans" are one of the world’s most powerful nitrogen fixers. Once the plants flower and produced beans, broad bean plants fix nitrogen on their roots for the benefit of themselves. First nitrogen goes into pod production, then the plant releases nitrogen into the soil as it dies back. This process naturally enriches the soil, and provide food and energy for the next crop of plants. Not only broad beans enrich the soil, they also eliminate the need for artificial fertilizers, making them a hugely sustainable crop to grow!
Broad beans are available in many different varieties. Whether you want to grow broad beans in a small kitchen garden, or in your garden, there’s always one for the right space.
How To Plant and Care for Broad Beans
As a cool-season crop, broad beans should not be planted in summer in climate zones that experience dry, hot weather. Temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or more negatively affect fava beans, slowing or preventing the production of flowers and seed pods. The ideal temperatures for fava beans range from 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant withstands a minimum temperature of 40 F, and a maximum temperature of 75 F. In areas that experience all four seasons, fava beans are best planted in the early spring, just as the soil begins to thaw. Prepare the ground with natural fertilizer. Whenever you're planting your beans, plant them in well-tilled soil that's been properly fertilized with natural fertilizer.
Broad bean plants are sturdy and bushy in appearance. They will grow in quite heavy soils and do best when planted in a sunny location. Do not add lots of fertilizers or fresh manures, or you will end up with just a vigorous leaf-producing plant.
Watch How to Sow Broad Bean Seeds Video
Plant seeds to a depth of 5 centimeters and allow 15 centimeters between each plant.
When planted at this time of the year, they will germinate within 12 days and grow quite rapidly. Their growth slows during the coldest winter months. The main crop in mid-spring will then satisfy the needs of many when there are few other fresh crops to harvest. The goal in timing the planting out of broad beans is to have them flowering prolifically when the threat of frost has passed. The plant itself can handle very cold conditions, but frosts will cause flower drop.
Planting in Mild Climates
In mild Mediterranean climates that experience warmer winters and cooler summers, it is possible to grow and plant broad beans year-round. Because there is little concern for frost in this type of climate, and because the summers are rarely above 75 F, broad beans can grow all year.How To Support Broad Beans
Broad beans will need support in windy conditions. This is very easy to do. You can insert a bamboo cane deep into the ground at each place where the beans are to be grown, and this will be enough to provide support to stop the plants toppling over. The canes can be put in place at any time before the plants reach 60 cm / 2 foot high.
Broad Bean Pests and Diseases
Broad beans can be susceptible from the following pests and diseases:
Broad beans can be susceptible from the following pests and diseases:
Black bean aphid/blackfly
Young shoots are often covered with masses of black aphids. These growing tips can be snipped off and disposed. Once the first broad beans appear, you have to cut off the top of the plant 8–10 inches. This will help your broad bean plant to be harvested earlier and will reduces the chance of attacks from black fly!
Mice
Sometimes mice unearth the seeds as soon as they’ve been sown. If you notice this happening, it’s best to cover them with fleece or netting to prevent the mice getting in. Alternatively, sowing in root trainers and planting out once germinated is a good preventative method.
Chocolate Spot
Dark brown spots and blots on leaves develop and can sometimes kill plants in wet seasons. Infected plants should be destroyed.
Caring of Broad Bean Plants
Watering
Broad beans require consistent moisture, especially during flowering and pod development. Water the plants regularly, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Avoid overwatering, as excessive moisture can lead to rot or fungal diseases.
Mulching
Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants to help conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain a more stable soil temperature. Straw, wood chips, or compost are suitable options for mulching.
Supporting
As broad bean plants grow, they may need support to prevent them from falling over or being damaged by wind. Use bamboo canes to support the growing broad beans by tying them to the cane with garden twine.
Fertilizing
Broad beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, meaning they have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. Therefore, they generally don't require much additional fertilization. However, if your soil is poor, or you notice slow growth, you can apply a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer.
Pruning
Broad beans don't require extensive pruning. However, you can pinch off the tips of the plants when they reach a height of about 8–10 inches to encourage bushier growth. Removing any yellow or damaged leaves can also help maintain plant health.
Harvesting Broad Beans
Broad Beans as a Cover Crop
Broad beans planted during the fall serve as a cover crop for the following spring. Cover crops, also called green manure, are plants you add to your garden bed during fall, and till into the soil in the spring following harvest. These crops prepare and add nutrients to the soil, making it more fertile and healthier for spring plantings. In particular, Broad beans add to the nitrogen levels in the soil, an essential nutrient for healthy plants. However, it should be noted that once the seed pods are harvested, some of the nitrogen added by fava beans is lost. This is easily remedied by planting broad beans as a cover crop, along with other cool-season plants, such as peas.
Health Benefits of Broad Beans
- Broad beans contain an amino acid called L-dopa, which stimulates the brain to make dopamine , the chemical associated with happiness.
- Broad beans are also rich in potassium, which can have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Eating foods rich in potassium is the best way of maintaining healthy potassium levels, rather than taking supplements.
Broad beans are a fantastic plant to grow in your garden. They’re easy to sow. They are healthy, tasty, and they improve your garden soil. So grow them and enjoy the results!
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