MoestuinMix: Results

I couldn't harvest broad beans. Can I enter this as a result?

Yes, please! Even if you couldn't harvest any broad beans, please inform us through answer form 6. The answer sheet has been modified so that you only have to fill in the required questions if you could not harvest.

The experiment failed. What should I do?

Did your plants not emerge, were they eaten or was it not possible to harvest for another reason? Please inform us! You can do this through answer form 6. The answer form has been adapted, so you can fill out why you couldn't harvest any broad beans.

When do I start the experiment?

The experiment starts as soon as you sow the broad beans. This moment is up to you. You can pre-sow from mid-February. As soon as you have sown the broad beans, squash and your crop of choice, you can let us know via answer form step 1.

When does the experiment end?

The experiment finishes after you've harvested the first broad beans. Please fill out answer form 6 to report your yield. You can also use this form to inform us that you couldn't harvest any beans.

Where do I find my tracking number?

Your personal tracking number is on the welcome letter you received from us. We use this number to link the results of different steps.

What is the choice crop?

The choice crop is the crop you choose to combine with broad beans. Use your knowledge and creativity! You have to buy the seeds for your choice crop yourself.

How do I send in my results?

You can submit your results digitally via the various forms for each step in the survey. See the green buttons above on the page. You cop the data yourself from your paper forms. We really appreciate this!

You can also fill in the online forms directly in your garden. For this, you need a phone or tablet with internet connection.

I prefer to send my results by post, is that possible?

Yes, you can do so without a stamp to the following reply number:  

Wageningen University & Research 

Att. Yvonne Florissen, Entomology 

Antwoordnummer 30 

6700 VB Wageningen 

Please remember to fill in your tracking number when returning the results to us by post! 

Which crops will I test?

Each participant tests the combination broad bean-pumpkin and a combination with broad bean and a crop of their own choice. You are completely free in this, so you have to provide the seeds yourself. You report to us which crop you have chosen.

What should I measure?

You measure the yield of broad beans by counting the number of pods and beans (level 1). If you want to do more, you can choose to observe aphids and natural enemies in addition (level 2). Want to do even more? Then count pollinating insects as well (level 3).

It is important to note the date you sowed and harvested and the operations you did, such as fertilising or weeding.

Furthermore, you provide us with various background data, such as the soil type of your garden, what other crops are growing and what the garden's surroundings look like. This may in fact affect your results.

When should I sow the broad beans and pumpkin?

You can decide when to sow the broad bean and pumpkin. Broad beans are usually sown from March and pumpkin usually from mid-May.

What steps does the experiment consist of?

1. Sowing the broad beans and noting down the date (mandatory). 

2. Counting and measuring the bean plants (mandatory). 

3. First count of the aphids and natural enemies (optional). 

4. Three repetitions of counting pollinators (optional). 

5. Counting beans and pods (mandatory). 

6. Second count of aphids and their natural enemies (optional). 

My bean plants are being eaten by animals. Can I get new seeds?

It may happen that snails, birds or other animals eat the young bean plants. If you would like to receive new seeds to give it a second try, please send us an email at moestuinmix@wur.nl.

Please note down on your answer form that you have received a second bag of seeds.

I have signed up, but I haven't received a welcome package. What should I do?

If you haven't received a welcome packages after signing up, please send an email to moestuinmix@wur, including the correct address. We will send you a new package.

Can I control aphids and still participate in level 2?

Yes, you can control aphids, but keep the treatment across the two groups of broad beans next to pumpkin and next to your chosen crop) the same.

Are you going to fight aphids and want to participate in level 2 (counting aphids and natural enemies)? In that case, make sure you do the count before you control. Note on the answer sheet how and when you controlled them.

We consider cutting the tops of the broad beans also to be controlling aphids.

Can I cut the tops of the broad beans?

Some people cut the tops from broad beans as a precaution to prevent aphids. This is allowed, of course, but keep the treatment of the two groups of broad beans next to pumpkin and next to your chosen crop) the same.

Want to participate in level 2, counting aphids and natural enemies? Then make sure you do the count where possible before topping. Note on your answer sheet when you topped the broad beans.

When should I harvest the broad beans and pumpkin?

You can decide when to harvest the broad bean and pumpkin. Broad beans are usually harvested from May and pumpkin usually from mid-August.

Why don't we measure the pumpkin?

In this experiment, we look at how the broad bean performs alongside several neighbouring crops. We are not testing the pumpkin with another neighbouring crop, so there is no need to measure its yield.

Broad bean and pumpkin are not together in the garden for most of the season. Why did you choose this combination?

1. Broad beans are an early crop and much of the season the broad bean is alone in the garden. If we adjust the sowing density and make room to sow pumpkin later on, each broad bean plant will get more light. The broad bean has less competition from its peers. For the pumpkin, on the other hand, it is planted or sown late and takes up very little space in the beginning. Once the broad beans are harvested, the pumpkin can take up space from the broad beans. In science, we call this 'temporal niche differentiation' and this seems to have the greatest advantage in areas with temperate climates.
2. Broad beans are so-called nitrogen fixers, due to their cooperation with soil bacteria. These bacteria supply nitrogen to the broad bean in exchange for sugars from the broad bean. When the broad bean dies, the plants and root remnants of the bacteria remain, passing on the captured nitrogen to the next crop, in this case pumpkin. Broad beans also stimulate beneficial soil bacteria from which the pumpkin can in turn benefit.
3. Pumpkin and broad beans are both interesting for pollinating insects. By growing them together, pollinators can use the same place over a longer period of time this saves them searching time.
4. Pumpkin and broad bean can both suffer from aphids. In healthy ecosystems, the aphids will also attract natural enemies. When the pumpkin is planted, there is already an army of natural pest controllers ready to protect the pumpkin as well.

These are all advantages that may occur. If they do occur is the question that we are trying to answer with your help.

What is the role of AVVN?

AVVN samen natuurlijk tuinieren is a partner in the CropMix consortium. We work together in building the MoestuinMix experiments, aimed at people with a kitchen garden.

What do I get in return?

Besides it being fun to participate in the experiment, you also get an insight into how your garden is doing. You will receive interim results and interesting facts about crops, pests and biodiversity. We also share great tips on broad beans. Last but not least: by participating, you contribute to knowledge about sustainable agriculture and help future farmers increase biodiversity in their fields. 

Who is behind MoestuinMix?

Researchers from Wageningen University & Research coordinate CropMix, a five-year research programme, and the experiments in MoestuinMix. Here, we work together with AVVN samen natuurlijk tuinieren.

What is the goal of the experiment?

Our aim is to learn more about crop diversity and how it works in practice in a vegetable garden or in a field. We are specifically looking for crop combinations that promote cultivation and the processes that ensure this. This knowledge could be important for farmers who want to work with crop diversity in their fields.

Why do you ask the help of vegetable gardeners?

A vegetable or kitchen garden is pre-eminently a place where crop diversity is high, but there are also big differences between gardens. For instance, in soil type, type of environment and which crops are grown. This provides interesting data.

Moreover, vegetable gardeners often have a lot of valuable knowledge about combining crops. We like to retrieve that knowledge to see what insights could be useful for arable farmers.

What happens with my data?

CropMix researchers will analyse the data collected to draw conclusions about which crop combinations work well, for example for higher yields, fewer pests and more biodiversity. Where possible, we will use the data for scientific publications to further share the results with other researchers and eventually arable farmers.

We process the results from your garden anonymously and confidentially. Your participation in MoestuinMix is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time without giving any reason.

Are the seeds provided organic?

Yes, all seeds are organic. The broad beans come from The Bolster, the pumpkin seeds from our partner Vitalis.

I don't want to participate anymore. What should I do?

You can always pull out of participating in the experiment. Please send us an email at moestuinmix@wur.nl. You don't have to tell us the reason.