Broad bean ‘Witkiem Manita’
Words: Graham Rice
Broad beans may not be an especially glamorous crop but they’re tasty, nutritious and easy to grow. ‘Witkiem Manita’ was one of fifteen selections to gain an AGM after the recent trial. It was felt that this bean should continue to have an AGM after being awarded one originally in 1999.
‘Witkiem Manita’ is a white-seeded broad bean reliably producing straight drooping pods 20cm (8in) long and 2.5cm (1in) wide, each filled with five high quality beans which freeze well. The beans are rich in protein and high in riboflavin and in Vitamin C as well being a good source of Vitamin A and E. The vigorous plants reached about 1.2m (4ft) high. From a sowing on 23 February back in 1999 trial, the first pick of pods was made on 17 June.
But this is an adaptable bean. Sowings can be made from mid-January to the end of June, for cropping from early May to the end of October. And in mild areas seed can also be sown in the autumn. The usual way to produce the earliest crop of broad beans is to sow ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ in November. But if the plants are lost over the winter, an early sowing of ‘Witkiem Manita’ in the new year will often start to crop just a little later than autumn-sown ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ would have done.
In general sow broad beans in the second half of February, two seeds at each station at a depth of 5cm (2in). Sow in single rows 45cm (18in) apart or double rows 23cm (9in) apart with 60cm (2ft) between each double row, and cover with fleece to protect from frost and birds.
Thin to one plant per station towards the end of March, and remove the fleece. Be sure to water the crop in dry seasons. Take steps to prevent blackfly damage and net the crop towards the end of May to keep out birds.