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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01 Jul 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I'm with Michele. on this. You may as well wait until july/August for broad beans. They'll grow the same if you plant them then as if you plant them now. They almost stop growing in the really cold months.cheers.
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15 May 12, anthony mezzini (Australia - temperate climate)
Can i plant the dry pods direct into soil or should i soak them in warer before planting
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20 May 12, Abe (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Direct is fine.
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10 May 12, Barbara Dioguardi (Australia - temperate climate)
In answer to the question about lack of bees in cold weather, my husband plants borage plants around the garden, as their blue flowers encourage the bees.
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01 Mar 12, Marc (Australia - temperate climate)
What do I need to do to the soil where I m going to be planting my Broard beans is there any owpreperation I need to be doing I was going to be putting in sum orgain matter into the soil and also some other fertilizer I was just wondering when to know wen to pic them
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14 Nov 11, Kelvin (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have trouble with something eating into my broad beans. It leaves a black spot on the out side of the broad beans & also black on the inside as well.
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12 Oct 11, Tracey in Melbourne (Australia - temperate climate)
Are there still flowers on your plants? If it has finished flowering then you won't get any more beans.
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10 Oct 11, yvonne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My broadbeans have yealded a good crop . Do I pull the plant out or do I leave it there to yeald again?
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27 Dec 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
leave a few pods on the bean plant until the plant shrivels and dies. Then collect the pods which will be black and shriveled and replant the seeds from these pods next year preferably in a different part of garden (for crop rotation)
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20 Sep 11, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi my broadbeans have startrd bearing beans the first ones are about 90 ml long but the new beans appear to be dying as soon as they start forming
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Showing 161 - 170 of 268 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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