Heritage variety-Broad Windsor beans are prolific yielders. Plants produce long 15-20 cm pods with 4-6 large, flat beans inside. This variety is also tolerant of frost and has fragrant flowers. Sow seeds when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past. Pick early and often to encourage production. Pick when plump and cook like peas or lima beans. This large variety will fix nitrogen in your soil, so it’s perfect for planting in the fall, harvesting in the spring, and following with nitrogen-loving crops like Brassicas, lettuce, or spinach. Fresh or dried, broad beans must be cooked before eating in order to rid them of potentially toxic alkaloids. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, or cooked like spinach. Broad beans are one of the world’s most ancient and widespread food crops.