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

27 Aug 09, jureien District high school (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Our broad beans at our school are podding up and the beans inside are about the size of a large pea, so theyb need a few more weeks to fatten up so we piick them...
26 Aug 09, Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)
You usually don't get broad bean pods forming until October. A side dressing of potash can help to produce stronger flowers
26 Aug 09, Kathryn (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes Max, Fava beans and Broad Beans are the same.
24 Aug 09, Warren Cox (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My broad beans are about a metre high and have lots of flowers and are still flowering. When can I expect pods?
19 Aug 09, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have planted my beans and they are beginning to sprout. Do I need to stake them in any manner?
16 Aug 09, nat (Australia - temperate climate)
Ken i think the BB plants are frost tolerant but it can affect the flowers so you may not get beans until after the frosts, im not 100% sure though.
15 Aug 09, Jarrad (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Carol, I too live north of Brisbane and have broadbeans that are flowering but also do not know when to expect pods. The flowers always seem to attract plenty of bees but they are blackening as well. Not sure if this is supposed to happen...
15 Aug 09, Carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live North of Brisbane,my broadbeans are flowering well,i have never grown them before so i dont know what to expect,do the pods come after the flowers.
12 Aug 09, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rosemary, mine are the same. Over a metre tall, flowers have been appearing for many weeks, but no fruit set yet. We are having good frosts but I thought broad beans were frost tolerant. I have no answers yet.
12 Aug 09, max davey (Australia - temperate climate)
are broad beans and fava beans the same.For medical reasons I have been told to eat fava beans for my complaint.
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