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 6°C and 24°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 25 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-22 weeks. Pick frequently to encourage more pods.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dill, Potatoes

Your comments and tips

23 Aug 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The ants are probably there to feed on nectar secreted by blackfly/greenfly. If you can get rid of the blackfly then the ants will go too. A dilute mix of flour and water can get rid of greenfly - it glues them down. I don't know how it will go with all this rain, but maybe worth a try?
21 Aug 10, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks. I checked this morning and I have flowers! Looks like I was just a bit early.
03 Aug 10, Rick Kyle (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you know where I can get fresh Broad beans? If not in season, when should I expect to be able to see them? Who (in Perh) is most likely to carry them? Do any (exclusive suppliers) import them in the off-season? I have Parkinson's disease and I have heard that they are high in L-DOPA which is what I'm low on.
16 Aug 10, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
great timing, broad beans coming into harvest in Perth WA now :)!!! Any half descent vegie market or continental deli should be able 2 supply.
18 Jul 10, green toes (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
sounds like a good idea
18 Jul 10, Roger (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This is my first time growing beans, my plants look healthy but I have more then one stem on each plant should these be cut off to concentrate on one stronger plant?
18 Jul 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Roger, we just leave all the stems and although they tend to flop around a bit, they all produce plenty of beans.
24 Jul 10, Roger (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks Liz will take your advice.
11 Jul 10, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
My bean plants look healthy and quite tall, but no flowers or beans. It has been very cold here the last two weeks or so. Whats wrong? Thanks
21 Aug 10, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
I am so excited, like you my broad bean plants looked healthy but they did have lots of flowers, but no beans. When I watered them this morning and looked I have LOTS of small beans coming on. So be patient, yours should start soon. I think it is the warmer weather.
Showing 251 - 260 of 344 comments

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