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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24 Apr 13, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
I plant mine in double rows i.e. 2rows 10cm apart then 30cm away from the next double row, then stake the 4 corners of the row and run a string line about 30cm off the ground so they dont fall down this keeps them tidy and allows air movement between the rows.
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13 Apr 13, Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
Are broad beans ok to grow with tomatoes.?
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25 Apr 13, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
I would say, yes if you look at the compatibility it shows potatoes which is in the same family as tomatoes
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17 May 13, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
You are generally growing broad beans and tomatoes in different seasons so it isn't an issue.
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01 Mar 13, Doreen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When is the best time to grow Broad beans in Melbourne & what are their needs fertilizer wise for best results please?
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21 Mar 13, Glenn (Australia - temperate climate)
Ive only just planted mine last week,I'm in melb too.I use mushroom mulch,they really then don't need alot of maintenance.
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23 Mar 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Only thing I do is water them and put some support for them as the wind usually play havoc on them
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07 Nov 12, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Helen, Whether you get more broad beans will depend on the weather at this point. If it stays cool enough for the flowers to set to fruit then you may get more broad beans. However if the weather turns hot again, you may find the new flowers don't produce any fruit. We've just picked a lovely second crop on our beans - but now we're about to pull them up as it's now getting too hot, so we'll dig them in for the next crop
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05 Nov 12, don andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
been growing broad beans many years lately i have been getting rust on leaves what is causing this and how can i prevent and treat my plants are 2 metres high with plenty of beans regards don
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13 Jan 13, Terry Parker (Australia - temperate climate)
I plant mustard as a green manure and bio fumigant in beds that have rust etc. before next crop.
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I have a smallish corner raised garden behind the woodshed where I have grown Pumpkins for the past two seasons and although my pumpkin crops have been magnificent (Queensland Blues) in my main Vegetable garden areas with several weighing in at over 5kg but this particular corner garden has only ever provided one average sized pumpkin and that was this past season. I have cleaned much of the worm droppings from my kitchen waste worm farm made two rows of troughs about 10 cm from the west facing fence and have added a line of the worm castings into the troughs and yesterday planted a packet of Broad Bean seeds into the troughs. cover and then watered these now raised mounds containing the seed. Having already provided climbing type stakes at the rear of the raised beds and will string tie the bean s to these supports when it is time to do so. The Season before last I had a bountiful supply of Broad Beans cropping for several weeks and was able to provide my non-gardening neighbours with bags full almost every week....the only problem I encountered were the mites which I think were the Rose garden pests that had swarmed all over the Broad Bean tops....so now asking if these little mites come and attack this latest crop what is the best remedy bearing in mind that I do not use chemical sprays as most of my garden veggies are edible types such as herbs, silverbeet and other similar foods, Cheers KB

- KB

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