How to Grow Broad Beans

Broad beans are the first of the legumes to mature, and there's nothing quite like shelling and eating the first crop of the year. But with successional spring sowings, you can have broad beans from June into September. The flowers also have a delightful scent as an added bonus.

Broad bean seeds are a very easy type of vegetable seeds to grow. As such, they’re a favourite for beginners and experienced gardeners alike, producing a much superior flavour when homegrown as opposed to shop-bought. They are ideal for smaller spaces too, able to produce a high yield from a comparatively small size of plant. 

In this guide, we cover all you need to know about growing broad bean plants to help you achieve the perfect crop within your growing space. For advice on growing more varieties of bean plants, be sure to read our guides on how to grow runner beans and how to grow French beans to get you started.

Broad beans should be grown in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. Be sure to weed the area thoroughly before sowing or planting, and add manure or well-rotted compost to the plot. Broad beans also benefit from being grown in fertilised soil, so using a high-potassium fertiliser such as Vitax Q4 Fertiliser is recommended.

Broad beans lend themselves to being sown at various times of the year, though the main sowing period is March and April.

In mild areas of the country on sheltered sites, you can sow certain varieties (such as The Sutton or Superaquadulce) in the autumn for a really early crop. During particularly cold weather, it pays to cover the plants with garden cloches or other forms of protection. You can sow in February under cloches for an earlier crop or sow in May to extend the crop throughout the summer months and into autumn.

Sow your broad bean seeds 2in (5cm) deep and 8in (20cm) apart, though dwarf broad bean seeds like The Sutton can be sown 6in (15cm) apart. They are best sown in double rows, with the rows 8in (20cm) apart. If a second double row is needed, this should be positioned 2ft (60cm) away from the first. Though, you can sow in single rows 18in (45cm) apart. You should sow a few extra at the end of the rows to fill in any gaps from seeds that don't germinate.

Support

Taller varieties of broad bean plants will need support, so place a stout stake at each corner of the double row and run string around the stakes at 1ft (30cm) intervals. Smaller varieties will typically support each other, though you can add some sticks for support if you so wish.

Sowing Broad Beans Indoors

If your soil is particularly waterlogged, you have a problem with mice, you live in a colder area, or your soil is clay-based, it can be useful to start your seeds indoors and then plant them out. Germination is often more reliable under greenhouse conditions, so may be preferred by some.

Plant your seeds 5cm deep into individual modules or pots, planting one seed per container. These should be kept in an area with good light, ideally a greenhouse or cold frame. Your seeds should germinate within around three weeks and be ready for planting out after around six weeks. 

If you’re wondering when to plant broad beans, they are ready for planting out when the roots have filled their containers. Before planting out, though, you should harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a couple of weeks.

When planted, your plants should be watered in well and spaced 8in (20cm) apart. These can then be planted either in single rows 18in (45cm) apart or in double rows 8in (20cm) apart.

Growing in Containers

Dwarf varieties of broad bean plants can be grown in containers, as these typically grow to a height of around 50cm (20in) tall. As with plants in the ground, they should be planted in sunny, well-shaded areas.

Your container should be big enough to house your plant, so it should be at least 40cm (15in) wide and filled with either multi-purpose or loam-based compost. You should then sow the seeds 5cm (2in) deep and 15cm (6in) apart. Be sure to water container-based plants well, as these are more prone to drying out.

Watering

You should ensure that you water your plants well, especially so when their flowers begin to set. You should take extra care not to let them dry out in hot weather. 

If you’re growing dwarf plants in containers, these should be especially watered as they are more prone to drying out than plants growing from the ground.

Weeding

Regularly weeding the area, particularly when your broad bean plants are young, reduces competition. So, weeding regularly with a hoe between plant rows is recommended.

Pinching Out Growing Tips

As your plants grow, you should pinch out the growing tips when their flowers appear, as this can help to deter blackfly. These tips can then be cooked and eaten in a variety of ways.

You can pick pods when they are 3in (7.5cm) long and cook them whole. But when picking pods to shell, wait until the beans start to show through the pod. Don't leave them too long, however, as the scar on the bean should still be white or green, not black. When the scar appears black, the beans will have become tough and bitter rather than sweet and tender. 

You should make sure to pick your broad bean plants regularly, as this encourages further pods to form.

It can be beneficial for the next crops you grow to leave your broad bean plants as long as possible. This is because they have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the nodules on their root system, meaning that the plants you grow afterwards will benefit from increased nitrogen levels.

Broad beans are generally hassle-free plants, though there are one or two problems that they can be prone to. Below are the most common, and what to do to both prevent and treat them.

• Blackfly - The main pest that broad bean plants can attract is blackfly. This problem can be resolved by pinching out tender shoot tips once the first flowers appear, as this is where they tend to colonise. Otherwise, you can use our garden pest control products or encourage natural aphid predators, such as birds, to your garden.
• Chocolate spot - This fungal disease can be recognised by the brown spots it leaves on foliage. It can cause flower loss and, in some cases, can kill your plant. You should aim to prevent this and other diseases by giving plants enough space between each other to maximise airflow. If your plant is infected with chocolate spot, you should dispose of it. You shouldn’t add any material to the compost heap or use seeds from infected plants.

Rust - Broad bean rust appears in warmer and more humid conditions. It appears in the form of dark brown pustules with signs of yellowing. Though it is not as damaging as chocolate spot, it can cause defoliation in some cases. You should dispose of any plants that are infected immediately, as spores can continue to survive on seed and in crop residues.

Looking to get started on growing broad beans? You can grow these plants for flavourful produce by shopping our collection of broad bean seeds. With over a century of expertise, our seeds are guaranteed to be a quality choice and provide you with well-growing and high-yielding plants. If you’d like to find more expert gardening advice, take a look at our gardening blog, where you can find a wide range of growing guides and more for a happy and healthy garden.

If you’d like to find out more about our range of vegetable garden seeds and plants, fruit seeds, and flower seeds, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’ll happily answer any questions you may have.