The three amigos: Fabes, Bunyard Exhibition and Crimson Flowered.
My runner beans went in the ground at the weekend, a weekend that started on Friday with me rescuing an abandoned, blue, plastic barrel from a field, then later staying with friends in Gorey where I received a gift of some precious, Asturian faba beans… thanks Mayte! And next morning, on the way home, buying another rhubarb plant at a farmer’s market, and five, not-so-small bales of barley straw at a disused brick factory.
On Saturday afternoon I dropped the straw off at the plot, covered it from the elements, and did a little bit of digging. Then on Sunday I planted two varieties of runner bean plus the fabes from Asturias (according to google, the faba bean is a member of the broad bean family, so that make it three kinds of broad bean then!). I planted two rows in a prepared bed, one row consisting of eight seeds of ‘Bunyards Exhibition’ and the second row – eight seeds of ‘Crimson Flowered’. The fabes went into two potato bags – four seeds per bag. I also sowed a few extra seeds per variety to use as transplants if required. Job done… now I’m looking forward to making Fabada in the summer!
The new rhubarb plant took its place in the rhubarb bed, and finally, I made space on the plot for my rescued water barrel.
On the way out I spotted the elusive Mr. Pheasant parading around the perimeter. I tried to sneak up on him for a closer shot but he was having none of it… one of these days!
Fabes in a bag… Fabada in the summer?
Filling a gap… the new rhubarb plant, ‘Timberley Early‘.
Come closer Mr. Pheasant.
Time to go home!
100 Square Metres 
We grow Bunyards, Crimson Flowered and Aquadulce. Good old favourites. Your rhubarb is way ahead of ours. Good luck with the beans! We need luck when we sow ours as we have voles on the allotment and if i start them in the greenhouse at home the field mice find them.
Thanks, this is my first time growing broad beans, and at a new allotment, so I’ll have to wait and see if there are any little thieves about!
Your rhubarb is further along than mine!
I tried to get it to slow down, Bridget, but it won’t listen to me!
Looks a lovely farm you live on. Much like ours.
Thanks for visiting. Your blog is very informative… I look forward to seeing more of your vegetable garden!
They sound like a close-knit group, Val! Nice intro!
I hope they grow to be big and strong together!
You’ll adore the Timperley Early, it starts appearing waaaaay ahead of all other rhubarb and it’s usually ready to start pulling by late March (once established). Had to laugh at Mr Pheasant, we get them in our garden. I love how they strut around, trying to impress our hens!
I think I’ll rename him Mr. Tony Manero, ‘cos he’s got the moves!