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 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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02 Jun 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Candice, you should pull out finished broad bean plants. If possible twist them off to leave the roots to decay in the ground as the bacterial nodules on the roots contain nitrogen which will be fertilizer for whatever you plant next.
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31 May 10, Gayle Bailey (Australia - temperate climate)
Half of our row of broad beans have half curled leaves, whole bed was fertilised the same and there is no sign of any bugs. This seems to happen every year and we do crop rotate. Help please.
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11 May 10, Bernie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Gardenate, thank you for the prompt reply.I find the information of seeding of the year very useful , spacing depth of Seed etc, would like a comment about each plant seed, like,' LIKES LIME, ACID SOIL, LOTS OF WATER, WATER SPARINGLY, HOT SUNNY POSITION, etc.You get my drift !Bernie
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11 May 10, Chris@Gardenate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Bernie, thanks for your suggestions. Some of that information will be available very soon when I get the crop rotation information into the web site.
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02 May 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
My friend said that the best time to sow broad beans is when the moon is between a quarter to almost full. Is he right. Does the moon play a part when sowing crops? Any hints.
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05 Apr 10, Robbie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Try growing Egyptian Broad Beans. The beans are smaller then regular BB, But they don't go woody as the pods mature. And they are not affected by frost much at all. The plants are shorter and mature quicker too. I love them
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27 Apr 10, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Robbie, where do you get the Egyptian broad beans - I haven't seen them anywhere
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01 Nov 09, gary (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Lindsay, it's both. Broad beans are legumes meaning they convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrogen in the soil. The nitrogen is attached to their roots and becomes available in the soil once the beans die down. The best approach is to cut the plants off at soil level once they've finished for the season. You can then lay the tops on the soil or use it as mulch elsewhere in the garden. It, too adds nitrogen to the soil as it beaks down.
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25 Oct 09, Leslie W. (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have planted Broad beans and they are flowering, but some of the leaves are reluctant to unfold. The next planting is worse. No insects are visible. Anyone got any clues leslie
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Showing 211 - 220 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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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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