Broad bean question.

FionnG · Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 7:06 pm Post subject: Broad bean question.

Hi there,
I have broad beans planted and they have lots of flowers.
The flowers seem to open for about a week but then they die off.
The beans are still growing and producing more flowers.
Is it normal for the flowers to die?
Do the beans come after the flowers die?
Thanks,
Fionn.

mange tout · Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 8:33 pm Post subject:

Yes, a lot of those beans and peas seem to form from flowers, berries too. The flowers die off and then the good stuff follows.

FionnG · Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 10:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply mange tout.
The variety is 'the Sutton' if anyone has tried it.

Blowin · Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 6:08 am Post subject:

Yes, FionnG, The Sutton is certainly the 'A-Lister' among Broad Beans so you're on the right course there.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 5:35 pm Post subject:

I usually grow The Sutton. It is very reliable in windy gardens like ours.

If you look closely where the flower was, you should see tiny bean pods forming.

Greengage · Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 6:46 pm Post subject:

It is a natural thing for beans to do. BUT theres always a but,.
Beans can loose flowers because, They are not pollinated,They have recieved too much fertilizer, Temperatures too high, Soil too wet, Soil to dry, Lack of sunlight and pests and diseases.

yaut · Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 6:34 pm Post subject:

I'm trying to grow broad beans this year too, Karmazyn variety:

mange tout · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:56 pm Post subject:

Are those kind of black rotten banana skin effects on the beans standard for broad beans? Where part of it grows black on the bean after the flower dies away?

Growing bunyard's exhibition. Didn't do great last year, had insect infestation and a lot of the above blackness. Seems to be doing better this year and I am trying to water them more. There were flies in but I seem to have gotten rid of them with a few sprays of water with a drop of washing up liquid.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:54 am Post subject:

Not sure what you mean. Do you have any photos?. By flies do you mean blackfly - a fairly common pest of broad beens ( though having said that mine are blackfly free for the third year running). Blackfly are usually concentrated on the soft leaves at the top. I used to pinchout the top leaves and mash 'em up in the compost bin! Very therapeutic. Very Happy

This year my beans were very quick off the mark and had LOADS of flowers, but the pods are slow to fill. That might be the back to front weather we have had.

tippben · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 12:53 pm Post subject:

Banana skin effect? Could it be that you've left the beans to get too mature, and the skins are starting to harden off? If so, you can dry the ripe beans and either use them as "fava beans", popular in the Middle East, and save some to sow next year.

mange tout · Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:17 am Post subject:

I think its just the flowers die away, turning black, just like an over ripe banana, then the beans form. I remember last year some of the plants didn't do great and only half the bean would form with the black part still attached. Will see how it goes this year and if it doesn't go well will try and upload some photos.