Crop type: Broad Beans
Vicia faba ‘Aquadulce Claudia’
Common name: Bean (broad) ‘Aquadulce Claudia’
Crop slug: broad-beans
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Aquadulce Claudia’ is a hardy, upright annual broad bean with an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Square-sectioned stems carry oblong blue-green leaves and clusters of scented, tubular black-and-white flowers along their length. These are followed by notably long green pods, up to 25cm, containing an average of six white-skinned beans.
Its H5 hardiness and ability to overwinter under protection make it particularly useful for autumn sowing and an early harvest. The columnar plants are much taller than dwarf broad beans and are likely to need support.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 1–1.5 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The narrow, upright plants complete their growth within one year. Their height and relatively modest spread make row support important, especially on exposed sites.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
Although the profile accepts all four common soil textures and every listed pH range, the best crop comes from fertile soil that retains useful moisture without becoming waterlogged.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H5 — hardy in most UK locations, including severe winters, although young autumn-sown plants benefit from cloche protection
Choose a sunny, sheltered bed. This cultivar’s H5 rating supports its value for overwintering, but protection during cold periods helps young plants establish for an early crop.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
| Season | Flowers | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | White and black | Blue-green | Green |
| Summer | White and black | Blue-green | Green |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
The scented, contrasting black-and-white flowers are borne along the upright stems in spring and summer, followed by green pods. Blue-green foliage supplies the backdrop. An em dash means the profile gives no colour for that field and season.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Vicia includes annuals, herbaceous perennials and climbers. Leaves may be simple or divided into many leaflets and often finish in a tendril, while pea-like flowers in yellow, purple, white or pink appear in small stem clusters or larger upright sprays.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun and shelter. Sow in October or November and protect plants over winter with cloches for an early harvest from May. Alternatively, sow into pots in a cold greenhouse in February or directly outdoors in March or April. Provide support for the tall stems.
Propagation
Propagate by seed. Sow each large seed in its final outdoor position or raise plants in pots before planting out.
Suggested locations
The scented flowers supply nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Once the lowest flowers have formed pods, remove the tender shoot tips. This can delay and reduce black bean aphid infestation while improving the bean yield.
Pests
The cultivar may be susceptible to pea and bean weevil and black bean aphid. Stored seed may also be affected by broad bean seed beetle.
Diseases
Possible diseases are broad bean rust and broad bean chocolate spot. Maintain airflow and inspect the tall foliage regularly, particularly during damp weather.