Broad beans are part of the ingredients of many stews, especially in Spain. They are also eaten fresh, and their taste is a mixture of sweet and sour many people like, although others do not. It is a simple crop with great results and we are going to show you how to do it. If you like broad beans and consume them when it is the season, why not dare to grow them?
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CLIMATE NEEDS
The behavior of beans is similar to that of peas. They prefer climates with little climatic variation, with warm or temperate temperatures. It is a winter crop and very high temperatures can affect both the germination of the seeds (they do not germinate at> 20ºC), and flowering (problems with> 30ºC).
SOIL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PLANTING FAVA BEANS
It usually grows in a wide variety of soils, so the characteristics of the soil are not a priority. It prefers clay soils, rich in compost content . Its growth pH is 7 onwards. Below we would consider that it has excess acidity and it should be corrected. Before cultivating them, you have to do a deep work on the soil, and at that moment you can add a bottom fertilizer. The deep work is done because the broad beans have a central taproot that goes quite deep into the soil. Being soft and turned the soil, the root will grow without problems.
SOWING IN THE GARDEN
It depends a lot on the climate in which they are grown. They are normally sown between August and November, but can also be extended a little longer. In our specific case, since not everything is going to be theory, we planted them in November, and as of today (January 29) they are quite overgrown. Before sowing them, it is advisable to leave the seeds (broad beans) to soak for 24 hours , which will increase the speed of sprouting.
They are usually arranged in ridges, at a distance of 20-25 cm between plants and 50 cm between lines, and after 15 days or so we will see the first seedlings emerge (a sign that everything is going well). We are going to know how much we have to water those beans that are growing little by little.
HOW WE WILL WATER WHEN PLANTING BEANS
Special attention must be paid to the drainage of the soil , since the beans do not support flooded soils, rather they prefer them dry that filter the water well. But beware, let’s not confuse the characteristics of the soil with the irrigation needs, right? As for that, it is better to have an excess than a lack of water, since they are usually quite sensitive to lack of irrigation. Ultimately, we want the soil to be moist but never for it to remain flooded on the surface.
AND HOW WE WILL PAY
Along with the deep work we will add a good amount of compost , since in this case the more, the greater the benefit. Apart from compost you can also take advantage of these types of fertilizers to complement the development of the plant.
ISSUES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS CROP
When the beans begin to grow, it is advisable to do a hilling of the stem . A hoe is ideal to carry out the work, and so you take advantage of it to remove some weeds that grow and hinder the development of our beans.
If we have a problem with the fly, when they are at the apex and the plant is already grown, the best thing to do is to just tear off those tips and say goodbye to the problem (for now).
COLLECTION AND COLLECTION OF SEEDS
Between 90 (the first beans will appear and 120 days (their maximum harvest) you will be able to harvest the beans. The convenient thing is that, in order to collect seeds for the following year, leave a few pods to dry with the plant (remove the irrigation not necessary) Once completely dry, the seeds (beans) are extracted and saved for the following season where the cycle will restart.
BROAD BEAN VARIETIES
Muchamiel: variety widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area. It is early and has medium pods (15-20 cm).
Grenadine: they are usually consumed fresh. It usually has large seeds and it resists cold well, although the production is not entirely good.
Sevillana: with vigorous stems and without branches. Early variety and of great height. It has large pods (25-30 cm).
You can easily find many different varieties of broad beans on the internet . Each of them can be used for different dishes. Some dry, for the typical michirones of the Region of Murcia, others fresh, etc.
And here we add a great video of a colleague from the sector in which we show you how he does it