Crop Clinic

In 2007, 3,500 hectares of beans were grown in Scotland. With an average yield of 3.28 tonnes per hectare, total production was 11,500 tonnes. (Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture 2007)

Field beans are a legume crop grown for protein animal feed. They are particulalry popular for organic livestock farmers who  are looking for home-produced protein.

Beans are easier to harvest than combining peas, but only early varieties of spring beans should be grown in Scotland. The variety entou has been popular, but this variety is susceptible to the disease chocolate spot.

Beans  should be sown as soon as soil conditions allow in February or March, although later sowings, up to early April, have given acceptable yields.

In a normal year spring beans mature in mid to late September, before winter beans. Unlike combining peas, field beans generally remain standing until harvest; they are less affected by wet weather and less likely to shed than peas if harvest is delayed.