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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06 Apr 20, anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Plant March to June - 12-22 weeks to maturing,
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10 Feb 20, Anne Brooker (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy the the green fava bean seeds
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11 Feb 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Eden SEEDS.
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23 Oct 19, Brewster (Australia - temperate climate)
how do you know when the bean pod ready to pick..? mine look massive , but when open them there not full size yet? is it a firmness or size..?
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23 Oct 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You can eat the whole pod when Broad beans are young , about 8cm. Otherwise, leave them until the pods feel firm and you can see the outline of the beans.
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01 Jun 19, Diana O’Brien (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Should you plant the “eye “of the seed down or up?
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06 Jun 19, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Don't think it makes any difference, I just drop them in :-)
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24 May 19, Anne (Australia - temperate climate)
Have been growing Broad Beans for many years. The past couple of years germination has been problematic, but this year is the worst ever. Have planted seeds dry, soaked overnight in water, also weak seaweed solution. No improvement in any method. Used seeds saved from last year's harvest in several patches, and packet seeds expiring Aug 20 and 21 in other patches. Any suggestions or advice most welcome. Thanks!
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01 Mar 19, Ron (Australia - temperate climate)
Are Fava beans suitable for digging back into the ground
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03 Mar 19, mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
All organic matter is suitable to dig back into the soil. Anything that has lived - plant animal. But it needs time to decompose to be available to plants.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 268 comments
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I have a smallish corner raised garden behind the woodshed where I have grown Pumpkins for the past two seasons and although my pumpkin crops have been magnificent (Queensland Blues) in my main Vegetable garden areas with several weighing in at over 5kg but this particular corner garden has only ever provided one average sized pumpkin and that was this past season. I have cleaned much of the worm droppings from my kitchen waste worm farm made two rows of troughs about 10 cm from the west facing fence and have added a line of the worm castings into the troughs and yesterday planted a packet of Broad Bean seeds into the troughs. cover and then watered these now raised mounds containing the seed. Having already provided climbing type stakes at the rear of the raised beds and will string tie the bean s to these supports when it is time to do so. The Season before last I had a bountiful supply of Broad Beans cropping for several weeks and was able to provide my non-gardening neighbours with bags full almost every week....the only problem I encountered were the mites which I think were the Rose garden pests that had swarmed all over the Broad Bean tops....so now asking if these little mites come and attack this latest crop what is the best remedy bearing in mind that I do not use chemical sprays as most of my garden veggies are edible types such as herbs, silverbeet and other similar foods, Cheers KB

- KB

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