ON THE VEG PATCH

HARVESTING BROAD BEANS

Broad beans are in full swing now and the crop will be at its heaviest with long pods full of tasty beans. At the start of the season we tend to pick just enough pods at a time for boiling, but when we want to pick a larger amount for freezing I simply cut the main stalks off at ground level. It’s then much easier to sit at a table to pull off the pods than it is to bend over the plant in the garden. It also means the roots are left in the ground where the nitrogen nodules will help to feed the next crop to be grown there.

SOW NOW FOR AUTUMN VEG

Thinking ahead to early autumn and some different veg, now is a good time to start planning and sowing a range of fast-maturing vegetables. Many fast-growing types such as 60 day broccoli, Chinese cabbage, pak choi, Florence fennel and spinach can be sown through July and into August to mature in September and October to fill the gap between summer and winter veg. The majority can be sown directly into prepared beds in shallow drills and when the seedlings are thinned they can be used in salads. Alternatively, if the garden is full at the moment, start the plants off by sowing in cell trays and when the seedlings are established in a few weeks, plant out and keep well watered.