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
  • Broad bean flowering
  • Egyptian broad beans
  • Shelling broad beans
  • Young beans on plant
  • Young broad bean plant

It is a rigid, erect plant 0.5 - 1.7 m tall, with stout stems with a square cross-section. The leaves are 10 - 25 cm long, pinnate with 2 - 7 leaflets, and of a distinct glaucous grey-green color. Harvest 90 - 160 days depending on how cold the weather is.

In windy areas it is best to provide some support with posts and string, otherwise the plants will fall across each other. Pick the tops out once beans start setting to prevent blackfly.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Broad Beans

The fresh beans are eaten steamed or boiled. As the beans mature it is better to remove their tough outer skins after cooking.
The leafy top shoots of the adult plants can be picked and steamed after flowering.
Small beans can be eaten whole in the pods.
Broad beans will freeze well. Remove from pods and blanch.

Your comments and tips

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I am a rookie gardener in Canberra. My winter garden is going well. Silverbeet, kale and cabbages are thriving. Root vegs (radishes and beets) producing too much foliage but not enough root so I'll switch from fertilising with my worm juice and seasol mix and add some potash to reduce the nitrogen part of the NPK ratio. Had good green manure crops (trying to improve the Canberra compacted clay soil). Planted three broadbean (faba) varieties which are still small (20cm) but growing fast. I remembered to add a bit of lime to the soil. Tried a "three sisters" (corn, beans, pumpkins) planting. Planted the corn too late (should have at least a four-week head start on the climbing beans) and got a zero pumpkin crop so I preparing plenty of bee-attracting flowers for my next attempt this spring. BTW I've invested in a cheap large (3.6x1.9m) greenhouse which is now full of small seedlings so that I can get a head start this spring. We have a short growing season here. The greenhouse will change to a shade-house in summer - last summer almost none of our seeds germinated in the harsh Canberra sun. Will keep trying and hopefully learn from my mistakes.

- Gerrie

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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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