'Bunyard's Exhibition' Broad Bean Plants
A favourite since the 1800s
Grown by Josh
South Downs National Park
Perfectly happy plants, or your money back
Specialist overnight plant delivery
The highlights
- Creamy with a delicate sweetness
- Reliably heavy cropper
- Add to a hearty shakshuka
- Plant from spring, harvest from summer
Description
- "I was determined to know beans." - Henry David Thoreau, surely echoing what every gardener feels when they begin plotting their dream veg patch...
- First grown in the 19th century, this heirloom broad bean variety is loved by gardeners the whole UK over, thanks to its reliably heavy yields and large bean pods
- When planted in spring, you can expect to start harvesting pods from the start of summer. While still small and immature, you can harvest the pods to cook and eat whole as you would green beans, whereas if you're looking to shell the pods, then harvest the pods when they're larger and full-looking
- You can also plant your broad bean plants in the autumn, overwintering them under a glass (or plastic) cloche to give you an earlier yield the following spring
- 'Bunyard's Exhibition' produces dainty black and white flowers in the spring, adding oodles of ornamental appeal to the plant's already sizable edible value
- This variety grows relatively tall, so make an easy box shape around your plants with some bamboo canes, tying string around the exterior (imagine a broad bean wrestling ring)
- Boasting exceptional flavour, the beans are perfect for adding to veggie casseroles, sprucing up summer salads, and roasting with oil and salt to have as a tasty snack
- If you find yourself with a surplus of beans, then fear not because this variety is known for storing well in the freezer - happy days!
- Certified by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of its Plants for Pollinators, broad bean plants like 'Bunyard's Exhibition' are a great addition to any wildlife garden
What To Expect
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How To Grow
Good pest and disease resistance
Broad bean plants can be affected by black bean aphids, which can be dealt with by spraying the plant with a mix of soapy water and vegetable oil. Young broad bean plants also need protection from slugs and snails. If you see the slimy trails so synonymous with these pests, then surround your plant with a barrier of copper wire or crushed eggshells, as this will stop them from crossing and getting at your plants. Ensure good spacing between your broad bean plants to allow air to circulate - this will help prevent fungal diseases like downy mildew from occurring.
Water regularly
Broad bean plants benefit from regular watering from when they start to flower.
Full sun
Position your broad bean plants where they'll receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Any moist, well-drained soil
Grows best in fertile (or at least relatively fertile) soil with good drainage (that retains some moisture).
No feeding needed
Broad bean plants don't typically need any additional fertilisation.
Planting Calendar
- Best time to plant
- Harvest
- Flower
South Downs National Park
Meet Josh
Slow grown veg from the sunny South Downs
Our vegetable plants are sown on a family farm in Lancashire, then nurtured into strong young plants by Josh in the sunny South Downs before they rock up in your garden. By selecting only the strongest and tastiest varieties, Josh makes sure you get a headstart on your plot, with impressive crops and no waste.
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Growing with Roots
Good to know
Our plants are grown in the UK
Specialist UK growers we know and trust grow your plants the traditional way, with organic fertiliser and biological pest control. They pick only the healthiest plants for you, professionally pruning them so that they’ll grow strong and well shaped.
Our plants are delivered overnight
Your plants are sent to you fresh from the field in our plastic free box that’s specially designed to hold them tight, then securely delivered by specialist plant couriers - straight from the grower to your garden within 24 hours.
We're here to help at every step
We want your plants to have a long and healthy life. Expect easy-to-follow grow guides and videos devised by our team of experts.
Perfect plants, guaranteed
We’re confident that you’ll be delighted with your new plants. Need help? Alice and her team are here to guarantee you’re perfectly happy.
Learn from our experts
Growing Green Beans: The Complete Guide
Digging deep to answer your questions
How do I know I'm getting quality plants?
All of our plants are grown in specialist nurseries with the highest standards of plant care and sustainability. We guarantee you'll love them as much as we do! Don't just take our word for it - we've got thousands of great reviews on Trustpilot.
When will I get my plants?
The delivery timescale for each plant is on the web page (near the 'add to basket's button). You'll receive a dispatch email with an exact delivery date once your plants are on their way, so you can get the garden ready.
How will my plants be packed and delivered?
We send all of our orders through a courier network designed to handle plants. Specialist equipment ensures that no plants will be damaged during the packing process and every order is carefully finished and checked by plant-loving humans. Your plants will arrive in the most sustainable packaging possible with minimal to no plastic used.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to anywhere in Mainland UK for our standard delivery cost. We are able to deliver most plants to Highlands and non UK mainland however this will be at an additional cost. This will be calculated at the checkout. Please note, deliveries to these locations will take longer. Unfortunately, we are not able to deliver to Northern Ireland at present.
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