May to July Broad Beans

Broad beans are the only beans that are truly happy in our damp, cool climate; so much so that the first sowings can be made in late October or November, though a February sowing often produces a better crop and only a week or two later. The first powers appear in April, releasing a gorgeous scent to draw in the few bees that are hardy enough to venture out.

Like many children, I dreaded the dry furriness of broad beans. In my middle years, however, the smell of them makes my heart skip a beat and I look forward to their brief season. I am lucky enough to be able to pick plentiful young beans and enjoy them fingernail size, raw in salads, perhaps with a few pecorino shavings.