Broad beans.

Hi!
I was at my garden centre and came across a display of very leggy, very messy trays of broad beans, ‘Dreadnaught’ by name. It said they were free to good homes, so it seemed rude not to take one!

I have never grown vegetables, that was my husband’s domaine, so I’m learning.
I have a patch in my raised bed with forget me nots, which are ready to be disposed of. I’m planning to put maybe three plants in there with bamboo canes round them and string around. As the plants are so long, should I take half off, or leave them as they are, apart from taking the tips off to prevent black fly? There are signs of flowers at the tips.
I’m also going to put some into a couple of vacant pots I have. Am I on the right track ? I have been reading up on broad beans and look forward to a meal of lamb and fava beans…….as I believe they are known in USA
Any advice gratefully accepted!

 

I think I'd just plant them and let them get on with it.
If you pinch out the tips you will probably get side shoots that are stronger, but will be a bit late coming.

 

Hi Pete
Thanks for your reply! Do I just let them sprawl on the ground, or should I encourage them to grow upright? I don’t think they have any tentacles to hang on to poles or string with.

 

Broad beans are not climbers, they grow more like a short bush with a few stems.
Some twiggy sticks might help to just stop them blowing around and getting broken off.

 

Could I ‘plant ‘ a few bamboo poles among them and secure the leggy legumes to them with my soft twisty stuff?

 

Yes, of course if you want to.