Broad beans

[ChrisnChris]

Just picked our first broad beans, they were planted very late, march I think.

Some of the pods, good & plump, about the thickness of my thumb, are completely empty.
Just a tiny brown speck the size of a match head where a bean should be.
Others are full to bursting
Any ideas what is causing this

[Glassman]

I had the same with borlotti beans last year

[Simpo Two]

Is it a pollination issue? Or maybe the young plant can't support all the beans.

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 27th June 09:19

[RonJohnson]

ChrisnChris said:

Just picked our first broad beans, they were planted very late, march I think.

I only just sowed our final lot of broad beans last week!

Have they been very dry as the pods were forming? May be drought?

[cslgirl]

Mine are the same. Some pods have 4 full size beans in, another is half the length with one large bean and a small pip. Have had a good crop though (for my first go).

The blackfly are taking over mine and I have just picked the last beans not full of blackfly.

[ChrisnChris]

RonJohnson said:

Have they been very dry as the pods were forming? May be drought?

They have all had the same amount of water. As suggested...pollenation....I'll do some more research, not been bothered by blackfly, yet.
This is only the second time I've tried to grow broad beans. The first were completely infested with blackfly & I dug them all up, I was sorely vexed

[SwanJack]

ChrisnChris said:

RonJohnson said:

Have they been very dry as the pods were forming? May be drought?

They have all had the same amount of water. As suggested...pollenation....I'll do some more research, not been bothered by blackfly, yet.
This is only the second time I've tried to grow broad beans. The first were completely infested with blackfly & I dug them all up, I was sorely vexed

Why didn't you just spary them with Bug Clear?

[eldar]

ChrisnChris said:

RonJohnson said:

Have they been very dry as the pods were forming? May be drought?

They have all had the same amount of water. As suggested...pollenation....I'll do some more research, not been bothered by blackfly, yet.
This is only the second time I've tried to grow broad beans. The first were completely infested with blackfly & I dug them all up, I was sorely vexed

To avoid blackfly, rip the growing tip out as soon as the flowers wilt. Seems to work.