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

13 Jun 11, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Paula, Broad beans are insect pollinated but pollinators such as bees are not very active during cold weather. Blossom drop is not unusual if temperatures are too cool or if the flowers are not getting pollinated. That's why it's a good idea to try to time planting so the broad beans are flowering just as the spring weather warms and the bees are appearing in numbers. In my area Sept to early Oct, your area may be different - observation and note taking will be helpful for next year's crop. You should eventually get beans on this year's sowing, but for next season you might want to time planting for a bit later and use the space for a fast maturing catch crop before the broad beans go in.
04 Jun 11, Jan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted broadbeans this year and some of my seeds have come up and some not, could it be the seed or something else I am doing? Are the seed already planted likely to come up? I looked where I had planted and found the seeds however they don't look like sprouting. Please help
25 Mar 11, (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
Could be they have rotted. Maybe the soil was to cold & wet !
12 Mar 11, jim (Australia - temperate climate)
i planted broad bean seeds and snopea seed in seed raising mix and they have totally dissapeared any ideas please
04 Apr 11, Caren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jim - they could have been taken by ants and stored for a later date - that is what happened to most of my seeds for the last 4 months. Now as most of the ants are dead I have got seeds popping up all over the place.
25 Mar 11, Brad (Australia - temperate climate)
Just an idear Jim, but did you water only once after sowing? I've read that you must only water once to provent rotting, maybe your bean seeds just decomposed into the potting mix?
05 Mar 11, liz newell (Australia - temperate climate)
can I use dried broadbeans from supermarket to plant? I dont have seeds from last year. Do I have to buy lots of packets from a nursery for a mass planting for my school garden? Thanks
27 Mar 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
HI LIZ, SAVE YOUR MONEY BUY BULK DRIED BROAD BEANS FROM THE MARKET IF YOU HAVE ONE. SOAK FOR 24 HOURS, THEN PLANT OUT, DO NOT OVERWATER JUST KEEP SOIL MOIST. I BOUGHT 2 KG OF BEANS FROM ADELAIDE MARKET 2 YEARS AGO FOR $3 AND AM STILL PLANTING THEM
14 Mar 11, kennykolal (Australia - temperate climate)
hi yes to supermarket beans,i bought mine from italian deli $2.00 for agood sized bag,fava beans are good also but grow to 2mts high,
08 Mar 11, leeroy (Australia - temperate climate)
you can it will work out cheaper but you dont know what variety your growing.
Showing 221 - 230 of 344 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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