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Broad Bean Witkiem Vroma

Vicia faba Witkiem Vroma
Fava bean

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'Witkiem Vroma' Broad bean is a very early-maturing, vigorous and productive improved variety. It forms an abundance of pods filled with tasty brown beans. This excellent quality RHS AGM winner is sown from October to November or February to April depending on the climate.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Soil moisture
Damp soil
Germination time (days)
30 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Sowing period February to April, October to November
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Harvest time May to August
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Description

'Witkiem Vroma' Broad bean is a very early-maturing, vigorous and productive improved variety. It forms an abundance of pods filled with tasty brown beans. This excellent quality RHS AGM winner is sown from October to November or February to April depending on the climate.

The Broad bean (Vicia faba), also known as the Fava bean, is a legume that belongs to the large Fabaceae family alongside regular beans and peas. It is thought to originate from Asia and the Middle East and is now cultivated worldwide for its excellent flavour and nutritional value. Broad beans contain high levels of vegetable protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins including folate (vitamin B9). The kidney-shaped or rounded seeds come in a variety of sizes and colours, from white to green, brown or even purple. They can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are especially tasty picked young, fresh and tender - when harvested early they can even be eaten whole, pods included. It is also possible to leave them to mature on the plants and to harvest them dry. Preparing broad beans is a labour of love… but they’re worth it! First, the seeds are removed from the tough outer pods. Then (unless they are picked young enough) they are freed from their soft, bitter inner skin. Generally, 1 kg of raw pods yields 250 g of beans.

Broad beans are very easy to grow! They can be cultivated successfully in a much wider range of soil types than regular beans, although best results will be achieved in loamy, well-drained, moisture retentive soil. Like all members of the Fabaceae family, they are not heavy feeders. As nitrogen fixing plants, they are often used in crop rotations to enrich the soil before or after plants that require lots of nitrogen to grow. In milder climates, broad beans can be sown from November to February for early spring harvests.

Harvest: broad beans can be harvested at all stages of maturity: young for fresh, tender unshelled beans, slightly later for cooking, or dry for storing.

Storage: fresh beans will keep for a few days in the fridge. They can also be dried and stored in airtight jars or frozen for later use.

Good to know: Blackfly is an aphid that commonly affects broad bean crops. It can be kept in check without resorting to chemical insecticides: try spraying your crops with soapy water (2 tablespoons of liquid soap per litre of water). Some people choose to leave blackfly on their crops as a way to promote fruit set whilst attracting more ladybirds into their garden!

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Harvest

Harvest time May to August
Type of vegetable Seed and pod vegetable
Size of vegetable Medium

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Vicia

Species

faba

Cultivar

Witkiem Vroma

Family

Fabaceae

Other common names

Fava bean

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference178311

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Planting and care

Broad bean germination occurs at a minimum temperature of 8°C. Emergence takes between 8 and 30 days.

Sowing is carried out from October to the end of November in the South-West half or under cover elsewhere for a harvest from mid-May to the end of June. In the rest of France, the sowing period runs from early February to the end of April for a harvest from mid-June to the end of August.

Young broad bean plants tolerate sub-zero temperatures but cannot withstand several days at –5°C, so if you are sowing in winter or if the end of winter is particularly cold, consider sheltering them under a small cloche.

In sunny spots, on loosened soil that has just been lightly raked, draw furrows spaced 40 to 50 cm apart, with a depth of 3 to 4 centimetres. Sow in rows, spacing the seeds 5 cm apart, and cover.

Growing:

Broad beans are an undemanding vegetable that thrives in heavy, moist soil. They require no prior fertilisation and are sown in well-loosened soil.

During cultivation, it is advisable to earth up the plants when they reach a height of 30 cm. This stimulates the formation of new roots and ensures better stability. At flowering, the top of the plant is traditionally pinched to encourage pod formation and eliminate aphids, which tend to settle there first.

In windy regions, it is recommended to stake broad beans (we do this much like with raspberries) so that, laden with pods, they don’t topple over at the first gust of wind.

In terms of companion planting, broad beans are good neighbours, particularly because they have the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. They are said to increase the yield of cabbage and lettuce. To deter aphids, you can also sow basil and phacelia between the rows of broad beans.

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Seedlings

Sowing period February to April, October to November
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Germination time (days) 30 days

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 192

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