[hubballi]

Well, here we go again. I have healthy broad beans. One type the tall and the other the Sutton. The Sutton hasn't put on any beans yet and the tall have one or two with the rest looking whispy with curly tips and blackened ends. Basicly it's a rubbish crop for the third year running. This shouldn't be because the plants themselves are healthy. Why do they flower, go black, shrivel and fall off before they pod ?

I have watered them, fed with a little comfry and nettle.

[heloise]

I know how you feel - I love broad beans but this year has been rubbish so far.
Last year the Bunyard's Exhibition we had did really well. But this year we tried Sutton and Imperial longpod. The Sutton have set next to no beans at all but instead are heaving with blackfly. The taller longpod have set a few beans but not many, though don't have the same blackfly problems. I can only assume that the odd weather patterns (heatwave in April, cold nights) have affected the pollination rates. Disappointing though  

[Lardman]

You're not alone - you may have seen my post earlier in the season about poor set on my Suttons. I also noticed bloke next door has poor yield on his Imperial long pod.

MoS suggested it might be bees (I forget which ones) that bite into the tops of the flowers to get to the nectar rather than entering the flower and pollinating them. It was a bit late for me to check at the time there were no flowers left.

Mine have been black-fly free this year  and otherwise health plants - just not very productive.

[plotman]

Well, here we go again. I have healthy broad beans. One type the tall and the other the Sutton. The Sutton hasn't put on any beans yet and the tall have one or two with the rest looking whispy with curly tips and blackened ends. Basicly it's a rubbish crop for the third year running. This shouldn't be because the plants themselves are healthy. Why do they flower, go black, shrivel and fall off before they pod ?

I have watered them, fed with a little comfry and nettle.

Thats really disapointing especially as its to late to replant. Can only imagine its a polination problem, ie Bees or lack of, Ive had a good crop this year and only problem as usual is blackfly. Im in wiltshire area and at time of flowers it was reasonably warm and bees were active. Wish you well for future

[ferreter51]

Well, here we go again. I have healthy broad beans. One type the tall and the other the Sutton. The Sutton hasn't put on any beans yet and the tall have one or two with the rest looking whispy with curly tips and blackened ends. Basicly it's a rubbish crop for the third year running. This shouldn't be because the plants themselves are healthy. Why do they flower, go black, shrivel and fall off before they pod ?

I have watered them, fed with a little comfry and nettle.

Thats really disapointing especially as its to late to replant. Can only imagine its a polination problem, ie Bees or lack of, Ive had a good crop this year and only problem as usual is blackfly. Im in wiltshire area and at time of flowers it was reasonably warm and bees were active. Wish you well for future

No problems here in Shropshire, either.  I'm getting good crops of broad beans and no blackfly so far.  There are plenty of hoverflies around and seemingly no shortage of bees.  They seem to be thriving and I am even thinking of starting to keep them next year.

[shokkyy]

I've had a decent crop too, but I do think they taste yeuch

[Christine]

I put in Aquadulce in trays on window sill in January, took them down plot when big enough and now have lots. I even gave some away today. The local family doesn't like them but I do.