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 P  

(Best months for growing Broad Beans in USA - Zone 8b 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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26 Aug 09, Kathryn (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes Max, Fava beans and Broad Beans are the same.
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24 Aug 09, Warren Cox (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My broad beans are about a metre high and have lots of flowers and are still flowering. When can I expect pods?
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19 Aug 09, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have planted my beans and they are beginning to sprout. Do I need to stake them in any manner?
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16 Aug 09, nat (Australia - temperate climate)
Ken i think the BB plants are frost tolerant but it can affect the flowers so you may not get beans until after the frosts, im not 100% sure though.
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15 Aug 09, Jarrad (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Carol, I too live north of Brisbane and have broadbeans that are flowering but also do not know when to expect pods. The flowers always seem to attract plenty of bees but they are blackening as well. Not sure if this is supposed to happen...
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15 Aug 09, Carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live North of Brisbane,my broadbeans are flowering well,i have never grown them before so i dont know what to expect,do the pods come after the flowers.
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12 Aug 09, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rosemary, mine are the same. Over a metre tall, flowers have been appearing for many weeks, but no fruit set yet. We are having good frosts but I thought broad beans were frost tolerant. I have no answers yet.
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12 Aug 09, max davey (Australia - temperate climate)
are broad beans and fava beans the same.For medical reasons I have been told to eat fava beans for my complaint.
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10 Aug 09, Rosemary Anderson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Tall healthy BB plants with many flowers but none setting. Does anyone know the reason or remedy?
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08 Aug 09, Teash (Australia - temperate climate)
After my harvest of broad beans last year, we took them all out of the garden and placed them on a composting pile, you guessed it in about 2 months I have BB everywhere, so I have just let them go, I have had BB over the winter, not a lot but enough for 1 decent feed per week. My advice to all you BB lovers, if you get lots of ants, give them a good spray with some soapy water, you may need to do this weekly if you have the time. If you see lots of bees around your flowers you will have lots of BB. Last year I just placed a rope around the bottom of mine and one around midway up to try and keep them together. One can never have enough broadbeans, blanch them quickly and freeze them if you have to many, mine generally dont last that long. Hope I have helped you in some way.
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Showing 231 - 240 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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