BROAD BEAN AQUADULCE CLAUDIA

Tried, tested and never found wanting. The standard autumn sowing variety and again in the spring if you wish.

Broad beans are divided into three basic types - dwarf, long-pod and Windsor. Dwarf broad beans are typically considered best-suited to exposed sites, long-pod to early sowing and Windsor types thought best for flavour.

Broad beans are easy to grow, very young pods can be eaten whole but typically broad beans are shelled for the beans inside. Young tender broad beans are tasty and soft, more mature beans can be peeled of their outer skins if preferred. Fiddly but worth it for those who are put off by the skins on broad beans.

In sheltered southern gardens with well-drained soil, broad beans can be sown outside in early November or February for harvests as early as May. Sown in November, seeds will germinate within 14 to 28 days and young plants should overwinter well. In colder areas, or when winters are severe, young broad bean plants will need fleece or cloche protection over winter.

Alterntively sow broad beans in pots under cover in February for planting out in spring or sow direct into the ground in March, April or early May for harvests throughout the summer.

Tall varieties require some support. Canes should be pushed into the ground beside each plant and bean netting used between the canes for extra support.

Harvest broad beans in stages, starting with the lowest pod first; small beans are sweeter and more tender that large ones.