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 P      

(Best months for growing Broad Beans in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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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23 Aug 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The ants are probably there to feed on nectar secreted by blackfly/greenfly. If you can get rid of the blackfly then the ants will go too. A dilute mix of flour and water can get rid of greenfly - it glues them down. I don't know how it will go with all this rain, but maybe worth a try?
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21 Aug 10, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks. I checked this morning and I have flowers! Looks like I was just a bit early.
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03 Aug 10, Rick Kyle (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you know where I can get fresh Broad beans? If not in season, when should I expect to be able to see them? Who (in Perh) is most likely to carry them? Do any (exclusive suppliers) import them in the off-season? I have Parkinson's disease and I have heard that they are high in L-DOPA which is what I'm low on.
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16 Aug 10, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
great timing, broad beans coming into harvest in Perth WA now :)!!! Any half descent vegie market or continental deli should be able 2 supply.
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18 Jul 10, green toes (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
sounds like a good idea
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18 Jul 10, Roger (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This is my first time growing beans, my plants look healthy but I have more then one stem on each plant should these be cut off to concentrate on one stronger plant?
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18 Jul 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Roger, we just leave all the stems and although they tend to flop around a bit, they all produce plenty of beans.
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24 Jul 10, Roger (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks Liz will take your advice.
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11 Jul 10, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
My bean plants look healthy and quite tall, but no flowers or beans. It has been very cold here the last two weeks or so. Whats wrong? Thanks
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21 Aug 10, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
I am so excited, like you my broad bean plants looked healthy but they did have lots of flowers, but no beans. When I watered them this morning and looked I have LOTS of small beans coming on. So be patient, yours should start soon. I think it is the warmer weather.
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Showing 251 - 260 of 344 comments
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ok i live near the sea in eastern southland my advice from very experenced gardeners in winton to plant broad beans very early august or before that.... i have always found that you can plant them later before xmas and obtain a good crop if you plant early in cold ground its not going to get there quicker . i dont think that the ground will be at 6 deg on the first day of spring What is your thoughts any how. another comment on blanching, then freezing all it will do is change the colour to a dull grey the fact is that it is going to be cooked any how, i stopped blanching ages ago.

- warren

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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