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Growing Broad beans, also Fava bean

(Vicia faba)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
              P P      

(Best months for planting Broad beans in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • 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 - Recommended soil pH 6 - 7.
  • Compatible with: Dill, Potatoes
  • Egyptian broad beans
  • Young broad bean plant

Your comments and tips

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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.
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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
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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
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19 Sep 12, marie. (Australia - temperate climate)
how do i know when the beans are ready to pick.They are 100mm long.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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you can it will work out cheaper but you dont know what variety your growing.

- leeroy


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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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