5 March 2007
Broad beans - so many mentions I’ve had to give them their own category
For some time now I’ve been meaning to tell you about our progress in the broad bean department. Back in February we made our first sowings - Red Epicure, Masterpiece Green Longpod and Verdy were lovingly placed into the first double row of what I expect will be a pretty big bed. Since then I have sowed another row or two and also sowed some in pots at home that are coming along nicely.
I am wondering if a bed full of different beans will cross-pollinate and whether I will end up with a strange hybrid of multi-coloured pods. I do hope not. It rather defeats the object of a trial of five or six different varieties of bean if I simply end up with one homogeonised every-bean.
Expect further taste test incompetence as the season progresses.
Filed under: Sowings, Taste test 2007 — Clare @ 12:41 pm
Broad beans do cross-pollinate quite freely! You will be fine with everything you’ve planted this year, but if you save seeds from any of them to plant next year you will probably start seeing some interesting new hybrids. It can be quite fun though, especially if you’re growing a red flowered variety like Red Epicure … I had some gorgeous pink-flowered broad beans last year from an accidental cross between red and white flowered varieties.
(10.03.07 @ 11:53 am)
Hi Rebsie - that’s what I thought. Perhaps I will make sure I sow a couple of rows of red epicure only somewhere else on the plot so I can try some as they are intended. I just hope that my mixed up beans will contain some that taste good.
(11.03.07 @ 1:02 pm)
That’s how the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers started!
(12.03.07 @ 9:01 am)
Hmmmn. Mutant alien monster beans. I wonder if I can sell them?
(12.03.07 @ 7:08 pm)
That’s what Ebay and Farmer’s Markets are for.
(13.03.07 @ 10:33 am)
Or maybe I’d have more success wearing a dodgy mac and pssst-ing at people down a dark alley.
(13.03.07 @ 11:53 am)