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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06 Jun 09, Emma (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
If you are affected by aphids/blackfly if you pinch the top of the plant off when the first pods have set then you should avoid this. Don't compost the tops though, they are delicious lightly steamed and tossed in butter and salt and pepper. My broad beans are coming to the end now and only a couple have blackfly, looking at it from the other side of the coin though it does attract the ladybirds !! Good luck !
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06 Jun 09, Jeff (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My beans have three or four stalks from the base, with others shooting. Should I limit the number of stalks per plant?
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02 Jun 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hey Jenny, if your broadbeans are blackish, they may have root rot or maybe a bit too damp. Is the soil heavy or easy draining? Unfortunately it may mean improving the soil to give them a good chance of thriving.
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01 Jun 09, creative 1 (Australia - temperate climate)
My tip for the year is to consult the moon phases chart before planting seed bearing plants. I find 99% germination with most crops and harvest in peak condition
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29 May 09, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)
Jenny, look around your plants for aphids, I had a whole crop affected by aphids, they stopped growing and the watering had made them rot. Look around your garden to see if there is anything else infested with aphids, my hybiscus was covered with them , soapy water got rid of them. I have now got into the habit of spraying everything once a fortnight with a garlic and lemon spray. Crush 4 cloves of garlic and one lemon (squeezed and cut up) into a two litre jug add hot water, allow to go cold and strain. Give your vegies a light spray once a fortnight, not many bugs seem to like the combination.
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24 May 09, jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, my braod beans seem to be wilting and turning blackish.....help??
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20 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Peter: I set up a stake at each end of the row(s). then wind string around the stakes enclosing the growing beans. Add another wind around as the plants get about 6 inches above the last string. seems to work. An alternative is to set up wind breaks.
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16 May 09, Robert (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have grown broadbeans for three years and have not used any support. I think its best to ensure the bushes support each other. I have heard that high winds can damage them but have not had this happen in Berrima
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09 May 09, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
Please advise do broad beans need support and if so how is this done?
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21 Apr 09, peter koffel (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted broad beans, were doing well for a week, then shrivelled and died. Has it been too hot here in Perth WA this April or is the soil I prepared too rich.
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I am having this problem (flowers not pods), this year. I did plant in a different location and I think my issue is not enough sunlight for the beans to set pods; additionally I planted tightly as this is a new garden bed and I was using the favas to condition the soil as much as I was using them for bean production. My research and minimal experience with favas tells me that any of the following might cause the plants not to set pods: 1. Less than a half dozen hours of direct sunlight per day (also planting too tightly causes less sunlight per plant) 2. Not enough water; when the plants flower they need lots of water to set pods 3. Temperatures; too hot or too cold and no beans Despite the criteria, I have found fava beans very easy to grow; growing in soil where nothing else can manage and still getting a decent amount of pods per plant. Water is not an issue in my location, and temps are pretty much ideal for favas (almost all year round). Sunlight is the biggest issue for me as I live in a area with lots of large trees and winters here are mild but overcast. Early spring tends to be fairly overcast as well, and despite still getting 12 hours of daytime in September (fall for this area) the sunlight is not intense enough to get the beans to set pods. That is to say; if I plant at the correct time (based on daylight hours and what months I expect to have good sun intensity) the plants grow, flower and set pods rather quickly. If I plant in the offseason, the plants grow, flower and then I have a long wait until the sunlight is good enough to get my beans to set pods. It's the beginning of May(spring here), and I have favas with flowers that I planted back in or around August (late summer).... no "real" sign of pods yet (I did get a few over the course of the winter and early spring). I'm hoping to get pods in June or so. Again, I planted in part shade and I planted too tight, so much of the "not setting pods" issue was self created.

- Celeste Archer

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