BEAN - SUPER AQUADULCE

  Organic Broad Bean Super Aquadulce

        10 Seeds Pack    

Broad Bean—Fava beans are one of the oldest domesticated bean varieties and have been cultivated since ancient times. Experts found archaeological remains in Israel and believe these findings can be traced back as early as the Neolithic period, from 6800 to 6500 BCE. Fava beans were later introduced from the Middle East into the Mediterranean in the early ages, eventually traveling along trade routes into Northern Africa and Southwestern Asia. The beans were prevalent in Ancient Egyptian, Greeks and Romans, and it had reached Britain by the 17th century. Today Broad beans are found worldwide and are cultivated in temperate regions with cool seasons.

Superaquadulce beans develop in thick, elongated pods, averaging 15 to 25 centimetres in length and 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter. The pods are bright green, bumpy, and fibrous with a leathery texture, covered in a downy coating. Bean pods are inedible, and when opened, they reveal a cottony interior encapsulating 2 to 8 large, plump, and flat green beans. The oval, curved beans average 5 to 10 millimetres in diameter and are encased in a white, waxy, and semi-translucent skin. This protective coating is edible but has a fibrous, chewy consistency with a slightly bitter, vegetal flavour. Beans have a tender to starchy texture depending on the bean's maturity and develop a soft, buttery feel when cooked. The beans contain sweet, earthy, green, and nutty flavours mixed with a delicate grassy bitterness.

    PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them.  
Sow straight into the ground in October and November for the earliest crops in the following May. It can also be sown in the spring for mid-summer harvest. 
The broad bean germinates with acceptable readiness already with soil temperatures around 5°C even if the resistance of the broad bean to cold is limited; in fact temperatures of even 1 - 2 degrees can compromise the harvest.  Broad beans require trellising for support.
 Sow seeds 5–7.5cm (2–3in) deep and 15–23cm (6–9in) apart, depending on the cultivar. In open ground, sow in single rows 45cm (18in) apart or double rows 23cm (9in) apart with 60cm (2ft) between each double row. In raised beds, where space is not needed to walk between rows for picking, all rows can be spaced 23cm (9in) apart.
The white and black flowers appear late spring and are very fragrant. Pollinated by bees and other insects the flowers give way to bright green pods.

Most broad beans are partially self-fertile but you will have a much better crop if insects pollinate them as well. This varies depending on the variety. We explain below how they can pollinate themselves and some problem areas.
As a broad bean flower develops, the stigma inside the flower becomes taut and it is also bent over. Insect activity in the flower will cause the stigma to spring open onto the pollen allowing fertilisation to occur. In some cases, where there is no insect activity, the stigma will ripen and spring open as a result of wind movement. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't which explains why poor pollination can occur.
Some bees have become lazy in recent years and instead of entering the flower from the front to get at the nectar, they drill a small hole at the base of the flower and get the nectar from there. This type of bee activity is not so efficient as far as pollination is concerned.
Another problem with broad bean pollination is that different varieties will easily pollinate each other if insects are allowed to go between the varieties. This will often result in pods which are not true to type.
When the first beans appear at the base of your plants it's time to pinch out the juicy tips. This is done to reduce the chance of black bean aphid attack and to stimulate strong growth with plenty of pods. Simply pinch the stem below the top two leaves so that it breaks neatly off. 

Good companions for broad beans include: carrots, lettuce, marigolds, celery, peas, potatoes, parsnips, cabbage, parsley, and eggplant. 
Avoid planting near: beetroot, onions & garlic, kohlrabi, sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes.