Author Topic: Goats'n'Beans + (Read 3383 times)

Penninehillbilly · « **on:** October 26, 2015, 12:11:25 pm »

Hi
tidying the veg garden yesterday, had a good crop of runner beans, taking tops out to prevent any wind damage.
Can I feed the stems to the goats? and the broad beans + pea stems?
also stringy runner bean pods?
thanks
While we are at it. how about beetroot tops?

Anke · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2015, 02:46:50 pm »

Mine don't like the broad bean plants now that they are a bit past it... same for pea plants (but mine by now always have quite a bit of mildew, so are not fed anyway). They should be fine with the fresh runner beans, but I don't grow any so don't know if they like them.

Beetroot leaves in moderation, they have (I think) high levels of salicylic acid, but a few won't hurt.

I am currently feeding all the nasturtium leaves that have self-seeded everywhere (read = invaded) my polytunnel from a couple planted last year to cheer up the flowerless polytunnel...

I am just off the make a start on throwing out the stuff in the polytunnel - need space for hay storage!

Cosmore · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2015, 02:58:43 pm »

Runner bean and pea haulms are relished by goats - at least mine did, they demolished the whole plants when fed them. I used to clear the runner beans when they started to get stringy and the peas when they passed their best, I simply uprooted the complete plants and tossed them into the goats field and they were demolished with great relish! My neighbour was a runner bean fanatic and passed all his haulms to me to give to the goats. Broad beans and their plants are probably ok, but be careful if you have milkers - they may taint the milk. Certainly I once made the mistake of giving my goats brussel sprouts - they loved them but the subsequent milk tasted and smelt of brussel sprouts, Yuk!
Beetroot leaves are ok in a small quantity but have salicylic acid so advise not too many.