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

09 May 09, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
Please advise do broad beans need support and if so how is this done?
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.
17 Apr 09, graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Amanda,It doesnt matter which way up they will sort it out for themselves
11 Apr 09, Amanda (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Which way up should I plant the seed, with the smooth end up or the seam up?
02 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Beans Lover: Broad Beans go in 1-2 inch (big knuckle on index finger is a good guide)
01 Mar 09, Beans lover (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
How far down do you need to drill a hole to plant the broad beans. Please, anyone help me. Thank you
30 Nov 08, Janet (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad beans were doing wonderfully then suddenly started turning black, withered and died. What happened? How can I stop it happening again?
22 Jun 08, lily flax (Australia - temperate climate)
Broad Beans are so easy to grow, remember when you have finished to cut them down and dig them back into the soil as a green manure, or alternativly, cut them down and cover with a layer of compost and then pea straw then plant your next crop, got an amazing crop of tomotoes this way
Showing 261 - 268 of 268 comments

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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