Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia is a reliable 'old favourite' variety with gardeners and highly rated with the RHS who gave it a well earned AGM in 1995 and reconfirmed its status in 2011 trials for its performance & high yields.
Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia produces glossy plump bean pods that are about 23cm long. They are full of 5-8 fat white broad beans that when cooked have a lovely creamy texture. Home-grown broad beans are sweeter and more tender than shop-bought, they retain their flavour with no hint of bitterness or toughness as they can be harvested from plot to plate in minutes.
It is considered to be the top variety for autumn sowing as it will produce a hardy plant that overwinters very well and gives a very early broad bean crop. It also performs well from an early spring sowing & if sown successionally over autumn & early spring will give broad beans from late May to mid-August.
Broad Bean Aquadulce grows to a height of 90cm and produces lovely white flowers with painted purple/black lips on the base petals and black veining on the upper ones. It looks lovely with other plants trailed through it like Sweet Peas or Nasturtiums & this attracts bees etc to pollinate the nearby beans too.
Broad Beans are back in fashion cooked, mashed with garlic & served on a thin French toast with a drizzle of olive oil is delicious & a real taste of summer.
Top Tip
If you want to boost your harvests then intersow with ...why?
Read our blog for further information.
Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia Vegetable Seed Information
| Seed Quantity: | Approx 30 seeds per pack. |
| Site: | Any, although rich free draining soil is best. |
| When to Sow: | October-December or January-April |
| How to Sow: | Sow 5cm deep in a double staggered row 20cm apart. If planting another double staggered row plant 50cm apart. If the soil is moist they can be pushed into the ground or alternatively dig a little hole with a hand trowel. Sow a few spare at the end of the row, so these can be transplanted if there are some failures. Seedlings will germinate within 7-14 days. Water and keep well watered in dry periods. |
| Care: | They will need support so build a frame using bamboo canes and netting, and as the beans grow twine them through the netting. When the first beans begin to form, pinch out the top 8cm to encourage the plants energy into forming more pods. This also helps to discourage black-fly who love the tender shoots. Make sure crops are well-watered through out the season. It pays to protect the crop with cloches or similar protection in very cold periods. |
| Harvest: | Late May to mid July for Autumn sown, 3-4 weeks later for spring sown. |
When to Sow Broad Bean Aquadulce Vegetable Seeds
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RHS Award of Garden Merit
| Broad Bean Aquadulce Vegetable Seeds have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM). This award indicates that the plant is recommended by the RHS and helps gardeners make informed choices about plants. [] |
