We're venturing into bleak midwinter territory, but you can still learn how to grow broad beans – in fact, now is the best time to tackle this hardy vegetable if you want a tasty crop come summer.

Broad beans are an ancient favourite with evidence of cultivation from as early as 6,000 BC. Easy to grow, high in protein and rich in vitamin C they're still a must for today's vegetable plot.

If you are new to gardening but want to try growing a few vegetables, a garden expert has picked out the three "easiest" ...

To grow a bean in cotton wool, you will need: Bean Seeds: Common choices include kidney beans, lima beans, or runner beans.