How to plant broad bean seeds

1. Seed selection

The most important factor in whether seeds can survive and grow healthily is the selection of seeds. When selecting seeds, you should choose varieties with high survival rate and strong disease resistance. This can be purchased directly from a seed store. Before planting broad beans, soak them in clean water overnight. When the weather is hot (midsummer), the time can be reduced by half. The next day you will find that the clear water has become turbid. You can replace it with clean water and continue soaking for about five hours. When the seeds sprout, they can be sown.

2. Land preparation

Because broad beans have a well-developed root system and prefer soft and moist soil, they need to be trimmed before planting to facilitate root development. However, there should not be too much water and the temperature should not be too high to prevent excessive waterlogging and seed death. The soil can be turned before sowing.

3. Sowing time

In the northern hemisphere, you can choose autumn, which is best around mid-to-late October.

4. Planting seeds

Plant the seeds in the soil about two to three centimeters deep, keep the distance between seeds appropriate, and maintain moderate humidity at 23%. After the seeds germinate, you can put poles next to them to prevent the seedlings from falling over.

5. Seedling Management

Fertilizer can be applied about 30 days after the seeds are planted. You can use farmyard manure mixed with wood ash, and at the same time pay attention to whether there are any disease or insect problems. The seedlings are still relatively fragile. In order to ensure sufficient nutrients, the weak seedlings will be removed and the healthy ones will be left to continue growing.

6. Pruning

Broad beans will flower three times before bearing fruit, and pruning is required before the last flowering. Cut off the tender leaves and young shoots at the tips of seedlings about 40 cm in length to accumulate energy for later fruiting. The young shoots picked at this time can be eaten.

7. Harvest

The fruiting time of broad beans is inconsistent, and the fruits can be harvested once a week. It can be fried or made into soup directly, and the leftovers can be dried and stored.