Yes folks...the broad beans are well and truly in. My partner returned from the lottie this afternoon with three bags full--28 kilos (or roughly 61pounds) of those lovely things. They almost filled the whole living room floor! We sat here and shelled and shelled and shelled until they were all done. And when we WERE all done it turned out to be 10 kilos ±22pounds, divided into 26 freezer bags--about one meal every two weeks during the course of a year. :-D I'm very happy about this haul. All other folks here are just now getting flowers on theirs....AND Blackfly (black aphids). I am happy that we arew missing those, but then that was the plan. We planted a sort called "Aquadulce" last October which are tough enough to survive the winter. Well next week or so we can remove those planys and compost them and plant something else on that ground. I am well chuffed...did I mention that?
Neither wonder you're so pleased Sjoerd!! That's a whole heap of beans. Your cats look slightly mystified by the size of the mound invading their space.
"applaud" Great job Sjoerd! The cats looks like they are going to jump in that pile. LOL! They look very yummy, have some for me will you please? That first pic looks like an arm coming out of the ground. LOL!
That's a lot of beans, congrats on the bumper crop. Your cats are beautiful, could be maybe see some better pictures of them?
Congratulations on your wonderful harvest! My guess is that when your co-allotmenteers sees the result, they'll all plant broad beans come fall.
Wow!!! Well done you. You should be proud! That is an awesome haul, and not bad at all for a meal every 2 weeks,, thats how we do it here, so there is always variety. So,,,,what are you going to plant in its place. I'm curious, i'm wondering if we planted in the fall, that would be a major help in crop rotation, and if it would work here. Or do you think our winters are to bad and cold, and spring doesn't really get here until June anyways.
Thank you folks for your good words concerning the great harvest of broad beans. I think that watering them plus the great reans that we have had recently have addes to the success. Alot of folks do not realize that broad beans respond well to water. A good soaking regurly does them wonders. DROOPY, your guess would be wrong. chuckle. Many of my fellow allotmenteers are aware of my bean choice and know that I plant early...but until now only two folks have gotten me to order beans for them, and one of those, planted them at the normal time :-? My fellow gardners are a bit conservative, to say the least. NETTY & BIITA-- What I will plant in their place are the remaining brassicas sitting in pots under netting at the 'old lotty' and Perpetual spinach. The nitrogen that stays behind in the roots of the beans will aid both of them to a degree. You can see the Calabrese's in black plastic pots if you look closely. CAJUNBELLE, let me look for a pic of those two poesies. Hereyah go: Left is Gül and right is Roos (both names mean 'Rose').
I didn't see this topic yesterday, don't know how I could miss that mountain of beans. Good job, it is a shame the other allotmenteers don't 'step outside the box' and follow your example. I love the Arm garden feature you have there too, that is a great place to put the harvest that you want to photograph.
Your cats are lovely! Is Gül a bit bigger than Roos? Other than that they look pretty much alike to me.
Thanks, I shall tell them later (I don't want them to get big heads). Thery look a bit alike because they are sisters, I reckon. Thanks Toni... that 'Arm Feature" is a very nice garden feature. I can take it anywhwhere I want and if turned the other way around it will also dig, hoe, give water, harvest and pull weeds. I've never been sorry I got it. S-W-iiiiiiii-S-H...........! Ducking here.
I was thinking if it was in a horizontal position it could be a greeter for visitors to your garden or to stop intruders with a hand sign. Also, holding it horizontally with those fingers curved like they are it would be a great hanging plant or watering can holder. Oh the possibilities are endless, you just have to use your imagination.
