Now here is a vision with which to begin the day! The broad beans have grown more sturdy these last couple of weeks, filling the frame we built at the turn of the season. Now they are in full flower, alive with the droning sound of bees and scenting the kitchen garden in the late afternoon sun with their heavenly scent.
It’s time to pinch out the top tips, to ensure the plants put all their energy towards converting those flowers into bean pods. And you know what to do with those: take the topmost tip…the plump top flower bud & perhaps the first leaf, and pop it straight into your mouth for the first crunchy taste of broad bean for the year! (The image shows more than you would eat, but a bird got to this one first….I think I may have to net them).
Unfortunately, I can’t show you the very first baby pod that I picked yesterday afternoon (about the length of an index finger)…because I had to eat it there & then! (Sorry, greedy I know but I couldn’t help myself…hopefully I’ll have an image or two for you next week as they become more prolific!).
Oh I do hope you planted broad beans this season too….