David Beckham is many things: a soccer player, a father, a coffee-lover, and (according to master gardeners), a master gardener. We've been keeping an eye on the vegetable garden at the footballer's Cotswolds since he planted it with his daughter, Harper, and a recent video shows that it's recently grown to impressive heights.
Beckham took to Instagram to share his formidable fall harvest, including bunches of onions and fava beans. It features gorgeous raised beds (like these wooden ones from Walmart), vertical trellises, and flourishing greenery. The video is endearing and eye-catching, but it's also full of lessons. Namely, David is telling us what to harvest and plant in November.
We spoke with our in-house master gardener and gardens content editor, Drew Swainston, to unpack David's masterclass in fall planting. Coincidentally, he has worked on a garden around the corner from the Beckhams and has passed the property on many an occasion.
Drew explains: 'The Beckhams have a spectacular vegetable garden bursting with harvests, and David was picking two crops you can actually plant now to harvest next year.'
The first crop is fava beans, or broad beans as David calls them (this is how they are commonly known in the UK). Drew states: 'These can be planted in the fall or spring. You can plant hardy varieties of fava beans in October or November, and the reward will be earlier crops next year.'
He continues: 'This only works with hardy varieties (Aquadulce is a classic and reliable hardy fava bean) and if you have well-draining soil, as beans sitting in sodden winter soil can rot. Simply plant the beans in holes two inches deep and at least eight inches apart.'
Recreate David's Garden at Home
These hearty and delicious beans are the perfect crop to plant in late fall. As Beckham shows, they look just as beautiful in your garden as they taste.
This pack of six types of onion allows you to grow all of the alliums your heart desires. They are multi-colored and pretty.
These flexible gardening gloves are dual sided, making it easy to slip them on to garden at any time. Even better, they are machine washable. At $3 a pair, you won't find a better bargain for something this good.
Carry your garden tools with ease using this stylish and simple to carry bag. Available in two stunning colors.
This stunning gardening tool is easy to use and comes in a beautiful, natural design emblazoned with the doyenne's name. It will instantly elevate your weeding experience.
This set is perfect for beginners, including all the tools you need to get started on gardening this spring at an affordable price point. They are fade, rust, and weather resistant.
The second crop that Beckham is currently harvesting is favorite for fall cooking. Drew explains: 'David was also harvesting onions, and you can plant certain onion varieties in the fall. The typical overwintering onions are Japanese varieties, of which you can get sets to plant in the soil 4-6 inches apart from September to November. If you do get them in the ground in the fall, you can get an early harvest of onions in June or July.'
However, be careful to avoid common onion-growing mistakes by choosing the right varieties. Drew advises: 'Otherwise, wait until spring, and you can choose to either plant sets or sow onion seeds. You will still get a reliably large onion next year from a spring planting, and there is a wider range of varieties (like the red onions David was picking) that you can start growing in spring.'
Planting and harvesting a garden is never easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding processes available in modern life. Inspiration like that offered by David Beckham can provide hope to the impatient gardener, and lessons for the novice. Truly, there's nothing better.
