Broad Bean disaster

[Sven]

I've already eaten a few of the BBs I planted back in NOVEMBER. I planted AQUADULCE and although they've developed OK, they seem to be getting devoured by woodlice eating through the pods!

Last year I planted Sutton and it was destroyed by blackflies. I always thought BBs were easy to grow . . .

I'm seriously thinking of growing something in place of BBs next time. My sugar snaps always do well!

Does anyone have some ideas?

[ina]

The broad beans I planted in November weren't much of a success, either: Only half of them came up, and those are only about 15cm tall by now. I sowed some more indoors in spring and planted them out - they are a bit bigger, but no beans in sight yet!

Black fly is always a problem with them; pinch out the growing tips, once you've got a good number of flowers on them - that's supposed to help. But the woodlice must be a result of the mild winter and spring. I think we may have to get used to that... Maybe we should cover them in fleece?

[ohareward]

Hi Sven. Slaters (woodlice) live under all sorts of stuff during the day, ie, leaf mould, stones, bricks, old boards. Make sure that your BB area is clear of rubbish. This could also mean straw and the like.
Ina is right about the blackfly. Pinching out the tips when flowering discourages the fly.

Robin