Broad beans; when to harvest the edible flowers, leaves and beans.

Broad beans (Vicia faba) are grown over winter in Victoria, producing edible flowers and leaves in the cold months when many vegetables cannot be grown, before setting the beans pods in warmer weather, when bees become active .
The broad bean plants are supported by a sturdy wire trellis on one side, and on the other side by soft cord tied around timber stakes.
The edible flowers are one of Karen's favourites in the winter kitchen on frittata's and can also be snacked on. The green leaves can be picked and added to salads or stir-fried.
When the weather is warm enough for bees to pollinate the flowers, Karen stops harvesting the flowers and leaves them to develop into bean pods.
After the bean crop has finished the plants can be used as mulch or composted adding valuable nitrogen back into the soil. The beans are a valuable plant fixing nitrogen into the soil as they grow.

Out-take at 3.30 min where the Australian meat ants defend their broad beans from Karen. Note; the ants are travelling on their well developed pathways from the beans to their nest more than 100m away. As the flowers finish up at the end of spring the meat ants loose interest in the broad beans (thank goodness).

[stuartthomas]

Hi from the uk 🇬🇧 I've been growing broad beans for over 40 years. So, I thought I would see if you could eat the greens or flowers. Well you're never too old to learn. I've just tasted the first of our bean shoots. Absolutely amazing. I've been missing out on this for so many years. Thank you :)

[Felco]

I had planted some fava beans as a veg garden cover crop last fall but let them grow in some areas into early summer as they were so healthy and attractive. Thank you for the explanation of different uses of these plants, I can see integrating them into the garden most of the year. Also good to know I have already grown over crop seed for next year!

[sharonzhang]

Thank-you.
Nice to know. Lunch is sorted for today.

[matthewspatch]

Hi Karen: what variety are you growing? Look like a good choice.

[cpurrin]

The ants on my fava beans here in the USA are tending aphids.

[uknow]

hello, i have some broad bean plants that have recently germinated they are some 7 cm high but i have noticed that the leaves are curled, and i am finding that there is something wrong with the plants, do you know what is wrong with them ?