Broad Bean Seeds

gobs · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2008, 20:40 »

Quote from: "Lardman"

Has anyone else noticed very poor pollination rates this year?

I've put an entire packet of Aquaduce and an entire packet of suttons dwarf in and Im looking at 2-3 pods per plant. Even from the 100 or so plants I'll be lucky to get 2 -3 meals from them. :cry:

No, mine seem OK. Bumble and solitary bees are your most important pollinators, as not much else can open the flowers. What you describe - 2/3 pods a plant - sounds like self set only to me. :shock:

Might want to contact the bumble bee association, they are really concerned and are seriously monitoring this problem, I believe.

love-my-plot · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2008, 21:27 »

Mine are ok too. Loads of pods on each plant and now that you mention it Gobs, I've seen lots of Bees around here .. both in the garden & on the plot.
So perhaps lack of Bees could be the problem in this case.

Lardman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2008, 22:13 »

Ooops kinda hijacked the thread here. :oops:

I've not seen many bees this year at all. Its not too bee friendly around here at the moment - must do something about that. I really dont fancy taking a paint brush to the runners ... :shock:

My broad beans were covered root to tip in flowers earlier in the year so I really expected better, dont know about pollen though - not sure how to check.

I'll put in some firethorn cuttings I know the bumbles love it, is there anything else they go nuts for?

Bombers · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2008, 22:16 »

summer rasb's

gobs · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2008, 23:03 »

Foxgloves, too.

Ordinary bees can't pollinate them, mostly just do pollen robbery through bumble and solitary bee entry.

Dry stone wall like structures are very good to entice a few species of them, some solitary bees love nesting in similar arrangement.

tommyboy · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2008, 06:35 »

Borage is good for attracting bees

Wildeone · « **Reply #21 on:** June 14, 2008, 08:23 »

My lupins are covered in bees this year and my hebe flowers!

Brian_of_Bozeat · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2008, 13:00 »

My comfrey is always buzzing...

flowerlady · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2008, 13:12 »

This year I grew my broadies next to a row of Phacelia ... wow did we ever get a great harvest ...

Can certainly recommend Aqualdulce Claudia for autumn (september) planting.
My spring planting were Bunyards ... both are brilliant! (these ones are white / pale green beans )

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