[Annie]

I`ve sown 1 packet of broad beans and was going to plants some Suttons and accidentally read the packet which says you can plant until July.When is the latest you have sown broad beans and got a good crop?

[Dan]

Do u mean it says you can sow until july? well its only may...so your fine?

[GrannieAnnie]

Some people sow them in the autumn as well don't they? to get an earlier spring crop.  But I sowed the rest of mine last week.  But its only my second year

[Annie]

I thought you planted early spring or autumn,just wondered if I plant them in june would I get a decent crop or should I just stick with tradition.

[WG.]

I'd stick them in as soon as you have the space available.  I'm sure that a June sowing will be fine 'cos they'll be up and away at express speed with the warm soil & long daylight hours.

In direct reply, May is probably the latest I've sown them

[Annie]

I`ll put them in when it stops raining(no complaints!),however if I get a bit off extra free space in June....

[niclala]

I was late starting last year, and planted one lot of broad beans early June and a second lot 3 or 4 weeks later - I had crops from both sowings.

[Annie]

Thanks for that,you can`t have too many broard beans in my opinion.

[WG.]

:oops:  :oops: I don't actually like them much  :oops:
I love growing them though so I'd love to see some recipe ideas.  Does anyone eat them immature, whole - pods and all - like french beans??

[niclala]

I haven't eaten the whole pods - may have to this year as I've got loads of plants on the go!

I just looked at a menu for a restaurant I'm going to next week, and they have broad bean falafel on there - will definitely be giving it a try and will see if I can figure out the recipe if it's as nice as it sounds!

I seem to remember doing a nice broad bean, butternut squash and sage risotto last year - the sage works well with the beans and the squash.

Also, had a lovely salad last week - lots of raw spinach and rocket, with cooked broad beans, dwarf beans, peas and a mustard and honey dressing. It was yummy!

[Annie]

The pods seem a little hairy to eat whole so I`ve never tried.I like the very small beans  cooked and in salads or pillav or cooked with garlic,mint and fennel seeds and morcilla(a type of spanish sausage).Larger ones I usually cook and remove the skin.I would like to dry them into fava beans to save on freezer space and because there are more reciepes for them,but I`m not sure how to go about it.

[WG.]

Thanks Annie and niclala.  Immature whole beans; I was thinking of dinky little pods maybe 2 - 3 inches long.   I'll try it when they've grown & let you know.

Just googled ...

Broad beans need to be podded, unless they are tiny, no thicker than a finger. In this case, broad beans can be topped and tailed then steamed whole, pod and all. Eat them hot, tossed in melted butter, or dress them with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper and eat them cooled.

[Annie]

I would be interested to see what you think but think they look so unappetising this size and the bean inside must be mini so the taste depends on the pod.

[noshed]

I was sceptical but eating broad beans whole is OK when they're small. They're even OK cold. All furriness disappears with cooking.

[Annie]

Well I planted my beans and something dug them up or nibbled them insitu so if I can find a way of protecting them I am about to find out if a june sowing works after all..Any ideas on protection?