Broad beans

[robertb]

I've planted six varieties of BB and a field bean together; I'm planning to continue adding varieties to the mix next year. I'm aiming for red flowers, red seeds, hardiness and good taste. Anyone else experimenting with BB's? Leeks next, and maybe purple sprouting broccoli as well.

[cortona]

Robert i'm also growing a protolandrace of bb and i've recived some interessant heirloom seeds from south italy, if you want to try some of it just drop me a pm

[templeton]

Robert,
I've just planted 3 varieties - a semi dwarf, gippsland longpod and some bulk dried beans.
Will you need to hand pollinate? I'm not sure if they outcross readily.
T

[cortona]

broad beans outcross soooo easily.....no need to crosspollinate if planted one near the others,

[raymondo]

Sounds like an interesting project Robert. Will you be saving seed plant by plant or mixing them up?

[12540dumont]

Oh boy beans!

I love beans. Cortona sent me some favas (broad beans) and I have for the last 3 years planted an new variety every year. I started with Crimson Flowered, Aquadulce and Supersimonia....I added Windsor, Long Pod Major and HD Navoli.

Next year, one of my friends wants me to isolate a patch of Loreta. After I grow them out, I'll add them to my mix. Next year I also add Ianto's return.

I'm always looking for a new fava to add to the mix. And I add whatever any one in Europe can find for me. Love Favas. Keep me in mind, please! What I'm aiming at is a mix that can handle flood, drought and freeze without lodging.

I'm also going to go for many more lupinis. I think I could probably plant them in fall just like the favas and cover the whole farm in grains and beans! (And a bit of clover).

[robertb]

I've got your seeds in the mix, Dumont. They cross like mad; it was my inability to keep varieties from crossing that led to my deciding to mix them up. I'll be saving seed by variety - some from each - to make sure each one contributes significantly to the eventual mix. I'm about to send a PM, Cortona. I'll be adding more varieties next year, so yours will be more than welcome.

[bertiefox]

I grow the crimson flowered ones, which are very pretty, but poor yields of smaller beans. I bulked up the seed in the polytunnel last year but judging from this year's germination rate (though might have been those hungry field mice) it doesn't save very well. My advice is not to use the red flowered ones unless you like pretty rather than taste.

[robertb]

They have small pods, but lots of them. I'm crossing them with longpod varieties, and red flowers are likely to involve a single gene, or at most a very few, controlling anthocyanin production in the flowers. There may well be another gene switching anthocyanin on and off - there is in peas - but I need that anyway for red seeds. That shouldn't have anything to do with how heavily they crop.

[steev]

I like pretty. Those with taste don't tend to like me.

[12540dumont]

Now you know...Steev and pretty.

[robertb]

There's quite a variation in germination rate showing up. Red Epicure are ready to plant out, while other varieties - Aquadulce, Crimson Flowered - are still emerging.

[12540dumont]

Robert some of mine are huge, and some are only knee high. All of them need weeding.

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[robertb]

When did you plant them? I put mine in around the beginning of March, keep them under cover, and let them germinate when they feel like it. Once I see them, I start planting other stuff.

[ilex]

I have a similar project for next season so I'm gathering different varieties to do a mass planting. I see I'm not alone.

I need to think if I want to mix small seed types with big ones or not.

Red epicure has red seeds, you should add that to your mix.

[also doing the same with leeks ;-D]