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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17 Jun 18, bianca (Australia - temperate climate)
hi there, did you check leaves for any sign of aphid infestation?
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25 Apr 16, Vera (Australia - temperate climate)
H,i to all the ones who are having trouble with growing broad beans maybe its the type of soil that you use , in my garden bed i mix cow manure, garden compost ,, ,vegie compost , i have done this for a long time , and i have no trouble with growing broad beans , last year i plant the seeds and had a lot of beans i had to give some away , i planted a few weeks again the seeds and i have them growing again , Regards Vera,
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06 Oct 15, Barry Coster (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad beans have leaf curl. I don't know what causes it or how to treat it ?
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12 Oct 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Barry, I have had exactly the same problem this year (I am from Central Highlands of Victoria). It's hard to find any information about leaf curl on broad beans via the internet. I have noticed however that it's tended to affect my plants which were overseeded in smaller 25cm containers (most of my plants in larger containers don't have the curl). I suspect that the recent Spring heatwave (we had temps in the mid 30s) has something to do with it - broad beans do not tolerate temperatures above 23 degrees and will start to wilt and die off in the 30s. My diagnosis is probably the combination of unseasonal hot, dry weather and overcrowding is killing them off. This may be the same cause for you if you live in an area that experienced the heatwave. I think you can either leave them and see if they recover on their own, or (which is the course of action I will follow), cutting down the most badly affected plants and leaving some of the others to hopefully regenerate. All the best, P.
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07 Mar 15, Sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it too late to plant dwarf beans? The packet says 'plant in March" ?
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31 Oct 14, Jim O'Brien (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted broad bean seeds 30/4 and just about to begin harvest on 31/10/14. That's 180 days. Is there anything I should do to speed up the fruiting process. Thanks
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12 Aug 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
you sound like an industry grower. Old saying plant peas or broad beans on Anzac day. I let them do their thing for a while,then a bit of hi Potassium will speed up flowering. But you planted correctly,no worries. Be patient,31 Oct you have a good crop,all other events can adjust.But so far do nothing it's perfect. Gaz
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18 Sep 14, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Fully in flower but plants have leaf curl.
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06 Aug 14, Bart Lea (Australia - temperate climate)
I should have said on the 5th. Plant during the waxng moon before the last Full moon of Winter.
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05 Aug 14, Bart Lea (Australia - temperate climate)
I was told that the pods begin to set when the warm Spring weather begins, so there's no need to plant them too early. I'm planting mine during the last New moon of winter.
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Showing 61 - 70 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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