First of all, a little bit of a Kermitflail that we actually got food from our allotment for the first time – how awesome is that?
We planted the broad beans at the beginning of November and they’re flowering beautifully. We don’t have any actual beans yet, but what we do have are broad bean tips. It’s been recommended to me that I pinch out the growing tips of the broad bean plants, both to reduce the chance of blackfly and to divert energy into fruit production.
“Pinching out” basically means taking hold of the fat growth tip and a couple of leaves around it and twisting or pinching them off the top of the plant (very easy, not complicated or scary!) Save these tips and leaves and bring them home…
Wash them and check carefully for bugs and beetles – we found a few which may have been the beginnings of blackfly, so I think we timed this pinching out just right. If you find any tips that are infested discard them (You don’t need the extra protein!)
I simmered them for 2-3 minutes in a pan with some frozen veg and served them as a side to a steak and ale pie; you could possibly also eat them raw as a salad veg or in a stir fry, or with pasta?
It just feels like a nice additional bonus harvest. Waste not, want not!
