Broad bean Ratio is an organically grown, very deliciously flavoured and well filled broad bean variety. Ratio is an early, productive, very deliciously flavoured and beautiful broad bean variety. This self grown variety of the Bolster produces a prolific amount of beautiful, light green, very well filled pods. When You harvest the pods while still young, they can be eaten whole like sugar peas. They've a very tender, light sweet flavour and are really crunchy. The beans are also very delicious when they're doubly skinned. Use Ratio as delicious vegetable, in soups, in stir-fries, in stews, with pasta and shortly cooked in salads. Height: 100 - 105 cm.
Indoor sowing:: january - february
Outdoor sowing: end of february - end of march
Germination: 3 -8 weeks (depends on temperature)
Germination temp.: 5 - 20°C
Sowing depth: 5 - 7 cm
Plant distance in rows: 40 - 60 cm
Plant position: sunny and sheltered
Harvest period: may - july
Sow indoors in seperate pots filled with moist potting soil for an early harvest from january. Sow 1 seed per pot in the middle and cover the seeds with a thick layer of soil, because broad beans are dark germinators. Don't put the pots on a warm spot, because they need cold to germinate properly. Plant the seedlings outdoors on a sunny, well manured and sheltered plot from march on. Give high varieties a sturdy support. Cover the plants with nets to avoid birds and other pests of eating them.
Sow outdoors on a sunny plot with well manured soil and shelter against the wind from march on. Sow 5 - 7 cm deep in double rows approx. 23 cm apart and keep the double rows approx. 40 - 60 cm apart. Broad beans need cold weather to thrive, so don't sow any later than the end of march. Keep moist and weedfree.
Pinch out the tops of the plants when they've 4 groups of flowers or the first pods are visible. This encourages the plant to put all its energy in making pods instead of leaves. Support the plants with bamboo canes or other support material and use nets to protect the plant against birds and other pest wanting to eat Your broad beans. Harvest when the pods are bursting. You can also eat the pods wholy, harvest then when the pods are thick like a finger. Water profusely when the pods are starting to grow and during dry spells. Broad beans can be frozen to store.
