[shokkyy]

This year is the first time I've grown broad beans, and I'm a little puzzled by what I'm seeing right now. I've done two varieties, both are looking big and strong and healthy and smothered with flowers. But I noticed today that on one variety (Imperial Longpod) the flowers on the top half of the stems look healthy but the flowers on the bottom half of the stems are crisp and brittle, almost as though they've been burnt. Any idea what's causing this?

[DD.]

It could simply be that they've gone over and you'll find a small bean inside them.

[shokkyy]

I just rushed out and looked, and I think you're right. They don't all have a baby bean, but quite a lot of them do, so I guess the others just didn't fertilise. We'll just chalk this one down to another blonde day, I guess

Thanks DD.

[DD.]

You mean I finally got something right?