Page 21 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

Broad Bean ‘Aquadulce Claudia’
Climbimg French Bean ‘Blue Lake’
Cultivars Climbing
• Cobra–stringlessandreliable.
• CosseViolette–purpleflowersand
dark purple pods, would look nice in
flower borders.
• Valdor–yellowpodsagoodcontrast
to the above.
• CherokeeTrailofTears–blackbeans
in a purplish pod and a prolific cropper.
Dwarf
• Thesemaybebetterinwindyareas andareeasiertoprotectifnecessary.
• Blue Lake - said to be good in wet or
dry weather.
• Masterpiece – popular and a good
cropper.
• Purple Tepee – gives good yields.
• Safari – a good flavour and grown on
Lewis.
Runner Beans
Again these need a good fertile soil that holdsmoisturesoaddmanureorcompost thepreviousautumn.Ifinawindyarea grow them in a polytunnel or against a south facing wall. Wind not only affects the plants directly by damaging the leaves but alsopollinationastheinsectsdonotflyas much on windy days.
Pea ‘Hurst Greenshaft’
SowoutdoorsinMay/earlyJuneonin modules indoors, plant out after any frosts. Support them well with canes or hazel stakesandwaterindryweather;mulching with compost will help retain moisture. Harvest the pods two to three times a week when young to avoid stringy tough pods.
Cultivars
• Enorma–goodlongpods,usefulfor exhibition.
• LadyDi–longstringlesspods.
• Moonlight–aFrench/runnerbean
cross which is self-fertile so useful in windy areas as no pollination is required.
• SaintGeorge–(Iknowit’snotSt. Andrews!) a heavy cropper.
Peas ‘Kelvedon Wonder’
Pea ‘Kelvedon Wonder’
• ScarletEmperor–growswellinPerth, Inverness and the borders so should be O.K for most of Scotland.
• WhiteLady–awhitefloweredcultivar.
Peas
A very popular crop widely grown since the 1500’s. The shoots can be grown and eaten as microgreens as well as grown for the peas in the pods. Aim to sow to give a succession of crops, start sowing in mid- April(possiblelaterincoldareas).Makea shallowtrench5cmdeepandsowthree rows of peas spaced at 5 * 5cm apart. Rake the soil over and firm gently, put supports in place to help prevent pigeons and other birdseatingtheyoungshoots,settrapsif mice are a problem. Chicken wire or similar
Simply Vegetables 21