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

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19 Aug 10, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
I have the same issue with my beans, wondering if it's a soil nutrient imbalance?
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20 Aug 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They take a long time, i planted mine in mid April, (coastal sub-trpopical)i i have lots of small pods now, my father who is an hour south of me (Temperate) has got loads of flowers but no pods he planted in late april. Not sure about nutrients but my patch is based on horse manure and seaweed from my beach.
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10 Jul 10, Keenonveg (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
I have had good results from autumn planted BBs over the years, but for the last two years the plants have only flowered on the bottom few inches. Those flowers produced nice pods, but were gone in a fortnight, with no more to follow! What am I doing wrong????
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03 Jul 10, Margaret (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When you pick out the tops, don't throw them in the compost, they are lovely chopped up and put in with your stir fry vegetables.
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01 Jul 10, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad bean plants look healthy and come into flower but the beans aren't setting. There are lots of bees around so I am assuming it is not a pollination problem. Has anyone come across this before? Margaret
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03 Jul 10, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem last year. Turns out I sowed them too early. Don't worry though, they will start to set when the weather is right. We still had a really good crop in the end :-)
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18 Jun 10, JC (Australia - temperate climate)
What do you mean by pick the tops out?
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19 Jun 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It means to pick off the top-most shoots so the plant stops growing upwards.
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11 Jun 10, John Woodward (Australia - temperate climate)
I also have broadbeans with curled leaves cannot find anything causing it. Seem to be growing OK but I don't know how they will go come time to flower.
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01 Jun 10, Candice bartels-waller (Australia - temperate climate)
My beans are finished fo the year do I rip them out or will they re-produce beans nxt year?
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Showing 261 - 270 of 344 comments
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The kill temperature for Fava Beans ranges from about -4c to -10c depending on the variety. Furthermore the temperature needs to be sustained; that is 2 minutes at -4c will not kill the fava bean plant; neither will an hour (most likely).... but 48 hours of temperatures consistently below -4c might. When the cold temperature is sustained the cells of the plant explode (freeze); it is the "water transportation system" that gets damaged and the plant can't continue. If you are expecting colder than average temperatures (or colder than you expect your fava beans to be able to handle) - you can cover them with plastic (clear if your keeping it on - anything if you are just putting it on top of them overnight). Tent style is best, but umbrella style (no sides) is also helpful. The most difficult time for the plants is usually around 4am when the "dew" settles, if during cold temp days you can get the plants covered overnight not only will the soil help keep them warm, you are keeping that cold morning sweat off them which can really do considerable damage if temps are cold. Also, high winds work like the morning dew; transporting the cold temperatures into the plant more readily.

- Celeste Archer

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