I am almost 100% shocked about that btw.
I was convinced- that this cover crop variety of fava beans was never going to bear fruit (well vegetable). I mean- it’s a zillion feet tall like a triffid. It’s clearly suffering from bean rust- and for god sakes the aphid load!
I mean UGH! I’ve been playing whack a mole with the aphids all summer! Mineral oil- insecticidal soap- it works, but if you miss one… the damn ants will *literally* pick up a nearby aphid and move it to your other plants.
(In all seriousness this winter I am looking to organically tackling the ants as a precursor to summer planting… I have… plans…)
I am definitely getting the next step in aphid killing, neem oil, the next time I’m at my local garden center. Still not 100% sure what a “neem” is- but it’s organic and kills bugs without hurting dogs so sounds great to me!
And yet- and yet…
That’s a goddamn baby fava bean. I counted three on the stalk.
Fava beans are like honey badgers.
Fava beans don’t care. Aphids? Bean rust? Weird San Francisco weather?
Fava beans just grow.
I planted this guys as a freaking nitrogen fix for winter spinach. And now I’m going to eat them! While fixing nitrogen for later spinach planting WHOOO-HOOO!!!
God bless fava beans.
And fuck aphids forever.
The Neanderthal Gardens 