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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16 Jul 12, Brian Vendt (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My broad beans are about a metre high,but still no sign of flowers!!Also,I have had a battle with Aphids in all the top shoots,and have been spraying them.If I pulled them all out,could I put climbers,and dwarf beans,in the same patch?I have above ground veggie garden,and live on the Nerang River,at the Gold Coast.Thankyou.Brian vendt
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06 Jul 12, GLENYS (Australia - temperate climate)
I understand you can dig the plants into the soil to improve the soil. At what stage and when is the correct time to do this? Should I leave beans on the plants or remove them all?
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15 Jul 12, Di (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Broad beans are fabulous for digging in. Lots of good stuff for your next crop of Nitrogen lovers. The question of de-beaning or not is up to you. Have you got enough beans for yourself? If so, dig away. The extra beans in the soil won't hurt a bit.
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06 Jun 12, graeme (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi,my broad beans are starting get leave curl and some are going brown on the tips the plants are only small at this stage
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27 May 12, stuart white (Australia - temperate climate)
when can i plant broad beans in hobart tasmania please
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29 Jun 12, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hiya Stuart -- I'm in Launceston and have planted my Broad Beans about a month ago. They have just come through. If you want to plant seeds now I suggest you give them some protection from frost and plant ina place to take best advantage of what sun you get. Planting later?? Refer Gardenate planting guide. PS Tassy is a cool/mountain climate. Hope you grow heaps. Cheers Michele
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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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Showing 201 - 210 of 344 comments
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This year I've had a fairly good crop of broad beans (Fava beans) in my small back yard. I left them to grow wild with grass and weeds growing around because it is impossible to eradicate them, especially if the beans are often watered during dry spells, and weedicide is not an option. Each stem had at least from 6 to eight pods of about 6 inches long or smaller. Maybe it is a smaller type of broad beans but quite delicious. I have had no problems with pests, mainly the white butterflies who roster on the plants in the evenings, but I did notice extensive brown powdery colour on their leaves. Not intending to spray the plants, I hosed most of it off the leaves but the damage had already been done to the leaves, however, the plants seemed to cope will with what looks like brown fungal residue. I planted my broad beans early October and they have grown well. I planted another patch near if and now are 5 inches (15cm) high. Looks like I will get another crop on late February provided they get water and or rain. There has been no snail damage whatsoever, as I keep these pests in check with snail pellets around the perimeter of the crop. I have also noticed a number of Ladybugs on the broad beans leaves. I let them stay as these beautiful insects monitor the plants for suspected pest activities such as Aphids, etc.

- Michael

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