Broad beans

Broad beans was first published in the local newspaper in a column about our green home.

Sugar beans are a major source of protein for many South Africans, especially the poor and vegetarians; however there are problems. The price has increased sharply, in part because of the drought.

The price of seed of new varieties has shot up since major agricultural companies have become involved with new hybrids; they are reportedly more resistant to mildew and other pests that have caused poor yields.

Retail prices increased by over 70 percent in the first six months of 2019.

This page was updated on 8th February, 2021.

Beans in general have large amounts of soluble fibre making them the perfect food for those who suffer from raised blood glucose; that is a huge problem in South Africa.

By forming a gel in the gut they slow down the rapid absorption of the starch in refined carbohydrates like white rice that we as a nation have come to love. Understanding a little about what is a dietary fiber is important for all of us who get most of our food from the supermarket.

Contrary to their name, sugar-beans are the perfect food for diabetics; but that increase in price has put a brake on sales.

There is an alternative; fava beans, as they are sometimes called, have an even greater proportion of protein; in fact, at 25 percent, the highest of all legumes.

They are simple to grow and go on bearing for months; autumn is the best time to plant them; they get a fungus called chocolate spot disease^[2] in warm, humid weather. Using plenty of wood ash in the soil when you plant apparently helps make them more resistant. 

Broad beans

Broad beans are the richest source of plant protein and one of the few sources of L-dopa for those suffering from Parkinson's disease; those who are looking for a natural source of their medication need seek no farther.

The catch though is that fresh young broad beans are almost impossible to buy in South Africa; you have to grow them yourself.

The seed is relatively expensive too; but if you keep back a few pods at the end of the season, they will grow readily next year. The Sunrise cultivar is best all round.

We have found that our own seed germinates far better for some reason than that bought from your local nursery. It should be soaked between damp sheets of paper for a few days.

Favas as far as we can tell seem to be less prone to the fungal diseases of sugar beans; the black aphids love them though.

We use natural white-oil to asphyxiate, but not poison the aphids.

We have had minimal problems with rust. There is absolutely no need to spray them with noxious chemicals as is required with sugar beans, making them doubly perfect for the green garden.

Soil should not be heavily fertilised as legumes produce nitrogen for the soil; they are the perfect crop to follow maize, for example. In our case the hens have picked the area between the mealies clean leaving their droppings. Together with ordinary compost that is more than sufficient.

They will need to be watered through the winter; the hens show no interest in the plants as they certainly do with green beans.

They need to be supported; a simple frame of treated wattle poles or 5mm round bar is perfect, lasting for years. A stout bamboo stake pressed deep in the ground is also fine; they need to be tied with twine.

Broad beans are unique in one other important way; they are the only natural source of a phytochemical that is the precursor to dopamine.

Preliminary investigations published in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research suggest that broad beans have tremendous applications in the prevention and treatment of highly prevalent Parkinson’s disease, neoplasms and cardiovascular conditions^[1].

Harvest your broad beans when they are still relatively young; like most vegetables they are not very nice once they are old. We have not tried drying them but I am sure one could make them available throughout the year. Better still is that they can be easily blanched and frozen; they will grow in the summer with a little encouragement too.

Dried beans have far higher levels of lectins; controversially there is a body of opinion, misguided in my opinion, that we should avoid all those foods. They are much nicer if picked when young and green in any case.

Our plan was to use any excess as a substitute for laying mash for the hens but that has proved too time-consuming.

• How to plant broad beans
  

Don't eat them raw

Broad beans and legumes in general but grains and other foods too have what is known as a trypsin inhibitor^[3]. It's quite complicated science and not relevant here but eaten raw, they can cause pancreatitis.

Cook your them unless they are very young; it deactivates most of the inhibitor. Read more at the nutritional profile of broad beans.

Try this broad bean bruschetta.

Blue Zones

The five blue zones of the world are regions identified where living to a hundred is not all that unusual. Researcher Dan Buettner found an unexpected commonality; many people continued gardening right into very old age.

What is more broad beans specifically get a mention, probably because of the dopamines that provide so much for our mental well-being. They are enjoyed in all five blue zones.

Read more about blue zones at gardening could be the hobby that helps you live to 100.

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