Favourite fruits and veggies - field bean tips

[@annebeck2208]

Getting Field Beans in the US isn't easy, but they should grow well in PNW. From what I can find the field bean of the UK is a small fava bean called Bells Beans that grow to 3-6 feet if left unchecked, but continual picking seems to keep them low. They were used in the US, but are really hard to find. (Field Peas seemed to have taken over.) I was able to find a wide variety of fava beans with various heights and maturity dates in small packages. I even found a few fava bean cover crops that rated the edibility. I got 4 different types of favas and will save seed.

[@SteveRichards]

That makes sense, I use 'field beans' because they are very hardy and cheap to buy, but anything in the same family would work : All the best - Steve

[@AJWGBFX]

Hi Steve, saw you growing these last year and grew them overwinter this year. You do not exaggerate - they are fantastic - even Mrs W will eat a lot of them - she is not overkeen on leafy greens. 2 mins steam - delicious!

[@SteveRichards]

I love success stories, did you do anything different to my technique? : All the best - Steve

[@AJWGBFX]

@@SteveRichards No, indeed I just started them in modules and bunged them in on the shadiest raised bed on my plot. So, I can't claim any credit. You provided the idea, the plants provided the harvest!

[@g.y.o5419]

Another great idea of yours i'm going to try. I never grow broad beans as I don't like the beans/pods themselves. I have to say though, you have convinced me to give this ago when autumn/winter comes around again.

[@SteveRichards]

Great, I hope you like them, I could send you a few beans to sow now if you want and then you could try them out before you commit? : All the best - Steve

[@g.y.o5419]

@@SteveRichards Thanks for the reply Steve. That's really kind of you to offer, thanks. Do you have some way I can contact you with my details?

[@mikeharrington5593]

Do you keep picking your curly kale florets too before they make flowers? These broccoli-like florets are sweet & tender & the pick-&-come again process seems to invigorate new tender shoots & small leaf growth which prolongs the cropping cycle very nicely. A bonus is you get a lot of reward for the ground space the plants occupy - for myself a must-have overwintering plant.

[@SteveRichards]

I certainly do Mike, kale is wonderful. We specifically grow Hungry Gap kale for it's florets. In fact I think you will see some lovely flowering kale in tomorrows video, in some ways Brussels Sprouts are even better when left to flower : All the best - Steve

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

I see your points, I'd not considered some of them before and I agree! I'll make a mental note and try to grow more broad beans. Thanks Steve.

[@SteveRichards]

Broad beans are more expensive and not as vigorous, so field beans are a better bet : All the best - Steve

[@yeevita]

Love this. Not exactly sure what field beans are called in US, but maybe just cover beans? Still, I love having edible greens!

[@gillianhigham3065]

Prompted by one of your previous videos, I grew some field beans over this last winter. Best thing I’ve done for some time! Your advice is very much appreciated! Thanks Steve!

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for the feedback Gillian : All the best - Steve

[@homeandgardendiaries6384]

Thanks for recommending these cause I had never heard of field beans. Bought two lots of field beans. Great to harvest from December to May. A source of food in winter.

[@SteveRichards]

You were lucky, not many left in the shops! : All the best - Steve

[@gebhardt244]

Please keep in Mind you can eat the beans as well. Verrrrrry tasty

[@TheRPBishop]

I will definitely follow this guideline this year. Thanks Steve!!!

[@SteveRichards]

Hope it works out well Paul, they are looking a bit sad right now, -11c wind-chill is hard on them : All the best - Steve

[@secondrevival4184]

Thanks for the great content and recommending these, I`m going to give these a go this year. All the best.

[@SteveRichards]

I hope they work out well for you Val : All the best - Steve

[@markshaw5835]

Wow that's amazing how much food u. It's well worth doing. Plus it great for over winter and u get it for spring as well.

[@SteveRichards]

Yep, the ultimate winter veg Mark ;-) : All the best - Steve

[@stevehitchman1846]

Going to have to give those a go later this year, does make me wonder what the pods would taste like? Chard has been my ultimate winter veg this year. I have been eating it in smoothies and omelettes nearly every day all through winter, and although it's all running to seed now it still has really tasty leaves. It all self seeded in my runner bean bed last year so completely free as well!

[@SteveRichards]

Sounds great! We grow a lot of chard too, but in mid winter we find field beans much better as chard really slows down unless it's undercover : All the best - Steve

[@junewilliams2149]

Thank you for this Steve- I followed your earlier advice and have been harvesting my field beans all winter for smoothies etc. Absolutely brilliant! Will do the same every year now.

[@SteveRichards]

Excellent, thanks for the feedback June, we are cutting ours down after their last harvest on Sunday, ready for the brassicas being planted next week : All the best - Steve

[@kennethnormanthompson2740]

Here in East Yorkshire the farmers are all growing a new type of dwarf field bean - less likely to be blown over and a bigger crop - smaller beans but loads of pods. Might be worth looking into if you can source small quantities of seed.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Ken, but my field beans never grow big enough to to be damaged, as I'm always harvesting the growing tips when they are a few inches tall, the bean then throws up another tip a few weeks later : All the best - Steve

[@royedwards5913]

Another great video Steve. When do you normally sow these beans?

[@SteveRichards]

October Roy a little earlier than broad beans, because you actually want them growing strongly by December : All the best - Steve

[@kennethnormanthompson2740]

Brilliant idea. If you live in a rural area you may be able to buy seed beans from a friendly farmer. The beans are just like broad beans but smaller, stronger tasting and have a thicker skin. Slow cooked and blended they make a very good soup base.

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Kenneth, we transplanted some into gaps in the broad bean bed last year, they were a bit strong for me, but Debbie liked them, although not as much as broad beans. We are not planning on letting them seed this year as we can but all we need for £5 it's not really worth tying up space. I will ask Deb if she fancies saving some for soup though : All the best - Steve

[@winjustin]

I have learnt a lot from your videos Steve. Thank you .

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for the feedback Winston : All the best - Steve

[@daviddixon2872]

Hi Steve Great video. I can’t relate too much to the allotment scenario, but your back garden space is very similar to mine. Will you be incorporating field beans into your back garden project? Is there a case to grow field beans in all your back garden raised beds to cover the fallow months through winter?

[@SteveRichards]

Absolutely David, in fact just 5 minutes ago I was working on my winter plan for the back garden. Basically all the beds will be growing a mix of: radicchio, chard, salad rocket, winter miners lettuce, field beans, corn salad, spring onions, Minutina and green garlic. That way they all come free in spring re-planting with peas, salads, spinach, spring onions and brassica greens. Things that need more cover will be on the allotment : All the best - Steve

[@waltershomesteaduk4235]

Great idea. Do you grow in modules to plant out or sow directly?

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Walter, if you had a small patch you could probably plant them in modules first, but the only reason I'd recommend that is if you needed the ground for something else for an extra month. We just dib a hole and drop in a bean, alternatively you can broadcast them and cover with a 1" mulch of compost (we do both) : All the best - Steve

[@GardeningforBeginners]

That’s very interesting cheers for sharing cheers Rays Allotment

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Ray : All the best - Steve

[@bigmaude31]

I started collecting seeds before the pandemic struck. However, now some of the online seed companies I used are having a difficult time meeting the demand. Are you folks in the UK having the same issue?

[@SteveRichards]

oh yes! Many web sites are closed to new orders. To even get to see the web site you have to go through a queuing system, then when you get there everything is sold out. Fortunately I almost always buy my seeds in autumn for the following year : All the best - Steve

[@rachelking7793]

Hi are all field beans edible? I sowed Maris Bead last year as a green manure but kept some to harvest. Thanks. Rachel

[@SteveRichards]

These were Maris Bead and we ate them : all the best - Steve

[@rachelking7793]

@@SteveRichards thanks. Look forward to trying them

[@allotmental.]

I've half a pack of seeds left, I must find some space on the plot!

[@SteveRichards]

Wait to October though! : All the best - Steve

[@maitegonzalez1261]

Do you have to be super careful with snails like spinach?

[@SteveRichards]

Snails and slugs tend not to be very active in winter, we've never had an issue : All the best - Steve

[@maitegonzalez1261]

Steve's Seaside Allotment thank you again

[@TheEnglishladyskitchengarden]

Just ordered some field beans... Is it too late to get them into the ground?

[@SteveRichards]

It's not Cherie, but depending on how many you have to sow it would give you a head start to sow in modules and plant out when 2-3" high, that almost catch you up with plants sowed in October : All the best - Steve

[@TheEnglishladyskitchengarden]

@@SteveRichards Thanks Steve. I am learning such a lot from you. My hubby will be very well fed with fresh greens next year :-)

[@Katya-zj7ni]

Do you ever eat the beans?

[@SteveRichards]

We have in the past, they are fine, but we need the space in april for brassicas or squash : all the best - Steve

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍

[@emcarver8983]

Don't you let don't of them develop beans? They're much nicer than broad beans 🤷

[@SteveRichards]

We have in the past, but we actually prefer broad beans, so we just grow field beans for the growing tips all through winter and spring and then use the tops and roots as a green manure/compost addition : All the best - Steve

[@shirleyemerson]

You need to talk louder. It's hard to hear you. Thanks

[@SteveRichards]

That’s an extremely old video, tech has improved a little since then : all the best - Steve

[@robleightonsculptor2853]

Hi Steve, I find your posts really helpful. I am expanding my vegetable growing space to make it possible to grow more produce for the family (we are all vegan so t makes sense). I follow 'no-dig' processes and am growing field beans for the first time this Autumn. This video and your explanation was so helpful. Looking forward to being able to crop bean tops through the winter months. I am growing radicchio in existing beds between multi-sown leeks and will be putting in salad rocket and mizuna as space becomes available over the coming month along with maincrop beetroot for storing. Also just purchased some Winter Giant Spinach from Real Seeds for cropping from November. I have been growing without raised beds on the heavy clay here in the Low Weald in Kent but have decided to have raised beds in the new area as I will be able to have a greater depth of topsoil/compost. I am hoping that this on top of the clay will provide growing conditions that will make it easier for some of thew crops that have struggled a bit this year.. Not helped with the extremely dry weather experienced this year and a hosepipe ban! Thanks again for all your posts.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for the feedback, I will be interested to know how your beetroot gets on planted this late, the latest I've planted my storage crop is late June in full sun, or late may in light shade and you might find the radicchio a challenge as they grow to be really big plants, so have you left a lot of space between your leeks? I'm sure you will benefit from raised beds over clay, that should help a lot! You could sow your spinach in early August for an autumn crop and that might be better between your leeks : All the best - Steve