|
Beans |
|
Sowing
Time |
Planting
Time |
Soil |
Spacing |
Cutting /
Lifting Time |
Storage |
Cooking |
|
Broad Bean |
|
Very easy to grow from seed with black and white
scented flowers followed by the pods. Water well when pods are
swelling and keep weeds down. Support is necessary for the taller
varieties. Pinch off the top 3ins of growth once the beans start
showing to ensure early harvest and to control blackfly. Use spent
plants as a green manure. Begin picking
when pods are 2-3ins long. To pick for shelling wait until the beans
begin to show through the pod. |
|
Early
February under glass or late February outside until the end of May |
n/a |
Provide a
rich, sunny, free-draining soil. |
8 inches
apart and 24 inches between rows |
End of May
to mid October |
Will keep
in a food bag in the fridge for up to one weeks. For freezing,
blanch for 3 mins and use within 12 months |
Small pods
can be cooked whole and sliced diagonally to serve. Older pods
should be shelled and cooked in boiling, salted water for 10 mins. |
|
French Bean (also
known as Dwarf Bean or Kidney Bean) |
|
A half hardy annual which likes warm conditions and
hates heavy clay soil. An attractive plant with white, pink or red
flowers followed by green pods (some varieties produce purple or
yellow pods). There are bushy plants and climbing plants. Keep weeds
under control and support the taller varieties. Water well when the
pods are swelling. Mulch in June and once harvested feed with a
liquid fertiliser to produce a second crop. Start picking when pods
are 4ins long and when the pods snap easily when bent. Dried beans
(haricots) can be obtained by leaving the pods on the plant until
they turn pale then dry indoors and store in air-tight containers. |
|
April
under glass or early May outside until the mid July |
n/a |
Provide a
sheltered, sunny, free-draining soil. |
4 inches
apart and 18 inches between rows |
End of
June to end October |
Will keep
in a food bag in the fridge for up to one weeks. For freezing,
blanch for 3 mins and use within 12 months |
Can be
cooked whole or sliced. Remove tops and tails and cook in boiling,
salted water for 5-7 mins. Haricot beans should be placed in cold
water and bought to the boil. Switch off heat and leave to stand for
an hour. Drain and serve. |
|
Runner Bean (also
known as Scarlet Runner) |
|
A very popular bean in the UK and will produce bumper
crops from August until the first frosts provided that you prepare
the ground well during winter. Keep well watered in dry weather and
pick every other day during late summer to ensure flower production.
Tie young plants to supports and protect from slugs. Keep weeds
under control and mulch to conserve moisture. Pinch off the top 3ins
of growth once the beans start showing to ensure early harvest and
to control blackfly. Use spent plants as a
green manure. Start picking once the pods are 6-8ins long.
|
|
Mid May to
Mid June outdoors: End April indoors |
End May |
Provide a
rich, sunny, free-draining soil. |
9 inches
apart and 18 inches between rows |
Mid July
to end October |
Will keep
in a food bag in the fridge for up to one weeks. For freezing: trim
and slice into chunks. Blanch for 2 mins and use within 12 months |
Top and
Tail and remove the stringy edges. Cut into 2ins chunks and boil in
salted water for 5-7 mins. |
|
Beans Troubles |
|
Trouble |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Prevention |
|
Anthracnose |
Brown sunken spots on pods. |
Destroy affect plants and spray remaining plants |
Rotate crops |
|
Bean Seed Fly |
A soil living grub which attack seeds which then fail
to germinate or produce distorted seedlings. Mainly affects early
crops. |
Destroy damaged seedlings |
Ensure the seed bed is properly prepared and dust the
drills with Chlorophos |
|
Black Bean Aphid |
Stunted growth, damaged flowers and distorted pods. |
Spray at the first sign of attack and repeat if
necessary |
Pinch out the tops of broad beans once four trusses
of pods have formed |
|
Birds |
Seeds and seedlings eaten and damage to pods and
flowers |
None |
Place netting over crops |
|
Botrytis (Grey Mould) |
Grey velvety mould on pods. |
Burn affected pods and spray remaining crop. |
Spray at flowering time if this is a known problem |
|
Chocolate Spot |
Small brown spots on leaves and dark streaks along
stems. |
Lift and destroy diseased plants and spray remaining
plants |
Apply fertiliser prior to sowing and don't sow too
close together |
|
Downy Mildew |
Yellow blotches on leaves with brown mould
underneath. Pods are spotted and distorted. |
Spray at the first sign of disease and repeat every
fortnight if necessary. |
Burn affected plants after picking. Rotate crops |
|
Foot and Root Rot |
Leaves turn yellow and shrivel. Roots and the base of
stems turn black and rot. |
Burn affected plants and water the soil with Cheshunt
Compound to avoid spreading the disease |
Rotate crops |
|
Flowers (none) |
Flowers not produced. |
Can be caused by disease but most likely is caused by
too much nitrogen in the soil |
Always use a fertiliser with phosphates and potash |
|
Fusarium Wilt |
Stunted growth. Yellowing or rolled leaves. Little
crop. |
Burn affected plants. |
Grow wilt resistant varieties |
|
Grey Mould (Botrytis) |
Grey velvety mould on pods. |
Burn affected pods and spray remaining crop. |
Spray at flowering time if this is a known problem |
|
Halo Blight |
Small brown spots surrounded by a yellow "halo" on
the leaves. Stunted plants. |
Lift and destroy diseased plants |
Never soak seed and rotate crops |
|
Leaf and Pod Spot |
Brown sunken spots on pods. Discoloured peas. |
Destroy affect plants and spray remaining plants |
Rotate crops |
|
Marsh Spot |
Brown-lined cavity in the centre of peas caused by
shortage of manganese. |
None |
Add compost prior to sowing and apply a sequestered
compound |
|
Mice |
Will eat seeds and seedlings. |
None |
Dip seed in paraffin or alum, place spiny branches
along the rows or use a normal mouse trap. |
|
Pea Aphid |
Stunted growth and damaged flowers. |
Spray at the first sign of attack and repeat if
necessary |
None |
|
Pea and Bean Weevil |
U-shaped notches at the edges of leaves. Seedlings
can be killed but older plants tend to recover. |
Spray at the first sign of attack |
Hoe around plants during April and May to prevent
further attack |
|
Pea Thrips |
Silvery patches on leaves and pods. Pods distorted. |
Spray at the first sign of attack |
Remove infected plants and dig over the soil before
replanting |
|
Pea Moth |
Pea moth maggots burrow through pods into seeds. |
None |
Spray just as the flowers appear |
|
Pods (none) |
No pods develop |
The loss of flowers without producing pods is often
caused by birds or bees but can also be caused by roots drying out |
Keep roots moist and mulch |
|
Powdery Mildew |
White powdery patches on both sides of leaves. Pods
are covered in white patches. |
Spray at the first sign of disease and repeat every
fortnight if necessary |
Burn affected plants after picking |
|
Seed Beetle |
Small round holes appear which house the seed beetle
grub. Seeds don't germinate or produce bad seedlings. |
None |
Buy good quality seeds and don't plant any which show
signs of holes |
