How To Plant Broad Beans

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Prepare the site

Loosen the soil with a fork and remove any weeds or large stones. Broad beans should be planted in sunny sites that are sheltered from the wind. Use a landscape rake to create a level surface. If you have grown broad beans in previous years, try to avoid using the same site as this will encourage pests and diseases. If you have poor soil you may want to add organic matter before you start sowing.

Step 3: Sow

Broad beans are planted in trenches in the soil, in single or double rows. Lay a piece of string on the soil as a guide to make sure you dig the trench in a straight line. If you are planting in single rows, use a hoe to dig narrow trenches in the soil about 5 centimetres deep. The distance between each trench should be the same as the height of the fully grown plant. Place the beans 10 to 15 centimetres apart.
If you are planting 2 rows of beans in one trench, dig on either side of the guide line and make the trench about 20 centimetres wide. Position the beans along the sides of the trench. Don't position the beans opposite each other as the plants will block each other's sunlight. Use a stick as a marker so you know where your beans have been planted.

Step 4: Cover

Fill in the trenches by gently sweeping the soil back over the beans. Use the head of a draw hoe or metal rake to lightly press down the soil. This will remove any air pockets and make sure the beans are in contact with the soil.

Step 5: Water

If you are planting your broad beans in Autumn, the soil should be moist enough without watering. If you are planting in Spring they may need watering to keep the soil moist.

Step 6: Label

You may want to label your beans so you know where and when they were planted.

Step 7: Leave to grow

If planted in late Autumn, your beans will be ready to be harvested by late Spring, when the plant has grown to between 5 and 8 centimetres in length.