Sowing & Growing

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in sun with shelter from strong winds. Do not plant where beans grew the previous year. Incorporate well-rotted manure before planting & apply a general purpose fertiliser 1 week before planting. Direct sow broad bean seed under cloches in February, or without protection from March to April. For particularly early crops some varieties of broad beans may also be sown outdoors under cloches October to November. Plant broad beans in double rows set 23cm (9″) apart and allowing at least 60cm (24″) between each double row. Sow broad beans at a depth of 5cm (2″) deep and a distance of 23cm (9″) apart within each row and water well. Germination usually takes around 10 days.