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

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
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.
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?
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 !
09 Jun 09, delia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i planted broad beans in march and while they look healthy-lots of lushous green foliage-there's not a hint of even a single bean. any ideas, anyone?
10 Jun 09, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jeff, more stalks mean more beans - no need to do anything! and to Delia, you planted the beans at a great time, now just sit back and be patient as they will slow growth until the weather warms. Expect a crop in Spring!
10 Jun 09, Emma (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
Delia - are there any flowers yet? You get flowers first and then the beans. I plant my beans in the winter in November and they don't start producing beans until April. It's only been a couple of months so you might need a bit more patience ! Good luck :-))
14 Jul 09, Marion English (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad beans are growing and flowering beautifully but there does not seem to be any pod growing or am I being impatient. I have never grow broad beans before but have a fairly busy garden with success of flowers vegies etc all year around
15 Jul 09, Emma (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
Marion, if you have lovely flowers then you'll probably have lovely pods too - eventually !! My pods appeared about 5 months after I planted them but it was a cold wet winter here in Blighty. I think you may need a little more patience but it will be worth it. They're lovely when young with some mint, new potatoes and feta cheese. Yum :-))
16 Jul 09, marion english (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Emma yes I think patience the essence .Yesterday the local radio station had gardening talk back so called in told themof my problem and he suggested I pinch the top out so have done lthat let you know what happens we are having a cold spell at the moment in the minus,wet and windy
Showing 21 - 30 of 336 comments

Roger, we just leave all the stems and although they tend to flop around a bit, they all produce plenty of beans.

- Liz

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