Growing Broad Beans, also Fava bean

Vicia faba : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              P P      

(Best months for growing Broad Beans in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 43°F and 75°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 10 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-22 weeks. Pick frequently to encourage more pods.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dill, Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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11 Jun 13, Ally Millington (Australia - temperate climate)
Growing Broad Beans for the first time - we had a storm during the week and some of the stems/leaves got damaged so I pruned them off and tied them up... will they be ok?
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14 May 13, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted the Broad beans in March the plants are 1 meter high . .I have had the white flowers come on the stems but have not got any bean pods . Am i doing something wrong or do i need to do something else ?
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30 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
You can try fertilising the flowers yourself with a cotton bud or wait till it warms up and the bees will do it for you! It may still be too cold for pods to set also :)
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05 Jun 13, Nicolas Connault (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Same here, Paul, got some white flowers on some of the plants, they've gone now and I can't see any pods. However, an old gardener friend of mine smiled when I told her and she said: "Be patient, Nicolas, be patient, they'll come!". So I'm following her advice :-)
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03 May 13, Craig (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in Geelong and I plant them in March/April. For support, I plant in a block to assist with support; then I stake around the block and wrap the string around the perimeter of the stakes. They are very easy to grow and with minimal maintenance and fertiliser needs(seasol every 3 weeks). Pick out the flowering tips to direct the growing energy into the bean pods. My favourite variety is Aquadulce, which I find produces a hefty crop of beans.
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16 Apr 13, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
When do I must cut the top of the plant,(chip) I was told after the pods are about 7-10 cm, is that O/K thanks for your reply Peter
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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
It depends on how many plants you have & how many beans you need. Some people recommend pinching out the growing tips when they are about 10-15cm long to encourage more stems, but you don't have to cut the top out of broad beans - I don't and I usually get plenty of beans. If broad beans are growing in a very windy spot, pinching out the tips of taller plants would stop them getting taller and less likely to be blown over...other people like to give them support...I do neither and my broad beans do fine (even in a windy spot).
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22 Jul 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
And steam and eat the tops if you pinch them off - delicious!
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15 Apr 13, Tina (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do broad beans need any support? I've never grown them before.
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20 Apr 13, JIM (Australia - temperate climate)
only if they are in a windy position if they are planted close together they will support each other
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Showing 111 - 120 of 268 comments
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The nice thing about fava beans is you don't have to cook them -- and you don't have to shell them (if they are still young -- they are young enough to eat whole UP TO THE point where they have plumped up fully and the pod is NOT YET fibrous -- once the pods are fibrous the pods need to be discarded (keep the beans) because the fibrous pods are too difficult to digest and will cause lots of discomfort). OK -- so I use my young pods raw (entire pod -- and some leaves and stalk) to make a pesto. I use this pesto as a dip. I also chop up the full pod and use them in stews (Garnish with some leaves). I use the leaves and some stalk (chopped up) when I make scrabbled eggs -- adding the fava once the scrambled eggs are about 15 seconds from done -- in other words just incorporating them into the scrambled eggs and then removing from the pan. If your unsure about what I mean when I say fibrous -- if you where to put the full pod in a blender/chopper -- after you chop, look at the mixture -- if the pods where too fibrous you will see "MESH" yes "MESH" -- looks like pieces of wire mesh -- pick these out and discard these. I NEVER DOUBLE SHELL -- the beans are always good -- but may need to be softened up like any dried bean needs to be.

- Celeste Archer

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