[Stoatus]

Last year I lost almost all my broad beans to the little *. This year I planted Aquadulce in the autumn in the hope that I get at least some beans before the swarms arrive. Would the hard winter have killed them off at all?

[Beetroot queen]

Puttting beans out during the day before I plant out, but is it normal that they have tripled their height in a week, they look liek the bean stalks Jack climbed  :blink:

[Aidy]

Last year I lost almost all my broad beans to the little b***ers. This year I planted Aquadulce in the autumn in the hope that I get at least some beans before the swarms arrive. Would the hard winter have killed them off at all?

Not normally, Aquadulce is very hardy and will take most things M.N can throw at them.

[pol and mick]

If derris is harmless why was it banned last year?

oh! i didn't know that derris powder has been banned.I still have a bottle in my shed.Best not to use it then.Thanks for letting me know.

[Stoatus]

Yes! Aquadulce planted in the Autumn is definitely the way forward. Plenty of blackfly again this year but - with the occassional squirt of soapy water and tip pinching -  the plants just seem to shrug them off. I've already harvested more than I got for the whole of last year, and they've only just started producing.

[Eatyourgreens]

Move to where I live, NO blackfly (Well I have never seen any) and I do very well with Broad Beans) 



Bob

[strangerachael]

So have blackfly started already? I haven't seen any, so thought they hadn't arrived yet, but maybe I have just got lucky this year?  oops, probably shouldn't have said that...

[celjaci]

Try cooking them and double podding.  You remove the grey outer cover and there are bright green, delicious beans inside.

Pick them whilst small - beans should be no larger than your thumb nail and you won't need the faff of peeling them.
Better still, try a green seeds variety - I converted OH to Broad beans with these

[Stoatus]

So have blackfly started already? I haven't seen any, so thought they hadn't arrived yet, but maybe I have just got lucky this year?   oops, probably shouldn't have said that...

They've been hanging around London for a couple of weeks now. Perhaps they enjoy the urban lifestyle - or the grime.