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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
25 Sep 12, Christine Visona (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
First time to grow broad beans, and pretty happy with it. I am now picking my mature ones. I rather like them both young and ripe but the ripe ones we deep fry and eat as nibbles. My question is how many pods can you expect from every stalk given good growing condition.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Sep 12, bob (Australia - temperate climate)
Of course growing broad beans on southern coast of victoria where it is a rather cold winter is different from where you are. My beans are now 2 metres tall with many flowers but no pods yet; maybe 2 weeks. To answer your question maybe 20 pods per plant - numerous. Cant eat them all so we get the beans, blanch them and freeze them for eating over summer. Must be blanched before freezing
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Oct 12, Frans Littel (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in Perth WA and have been growing broadies for about 5 years and at the moment still have about 1.5kg of beans left from last year in our freezer , we have not had any luck with blanch the beans before freezing all we do shell the beans and freeze them when ready just cook them as if they just picked. Feel sorry for those who don't like broad beans. Frans
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Sep 12, marie. (Australia - temperate climate)
how do i know when the beans are ready to pick.They are 100mm long.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Sep 12, bob (Australia - temperate climate)
mature pods grow to about 9 inches long with abt 8 beans per pod can start eating( pods and beans) when young, abt 4 inches long
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Sep 12, hz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Perfect for picking right now ! At this size they are nice in a stir-fry or steamed, when larger they need to be shelled and just the bean is used. I never let mine get big, except for the few rogues that I don't see till too late. Where I am, I won't get flowers for another month, and beans in November. Can't wait, I put twice as many in this year as they were so wonderful last year.
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Sep 12, harold dowling (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like to know if it is advisable to cut some of the stems off as there are sometimes 5-6 stems rising of one seed. It leads to a bit of overcrowding. The seeds were planted abt 60mm apart. Thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Sep 12, bob (Australia - temperate climate)
Keep all the stalks growing; they all produce pods. Better a bit crowded as they stand together better in strong winds.
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Sep 12, Tracie (Australia - temperate climate)
My first time at broad beans - they started off well but got eaten by the white cabbage moth I believe - so they are quite damaged and I was about to dig them into the soil to plant tomatoes - but they have now shooted from the sides and formed new growth - should I leave them is there anyway they are still going to grow? They are only 20cm tall? Thx
Reply or Post a new comment
25 Aug 12, Andy (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad beans have plenty of flowers - but are not setting any seed - so no beans. Any ideas? Thanks Andy
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 181 - 190 of 344 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.