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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29 Apr 22, Lynn Laurent (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Since moving to Tauranga I have found it better to plant broadbeans mid winter …. June as any earlier the flowers are not pollenated. Wait until mid winter so the bees will be active when the plants begin to flower. That way you don’t lose the first line of beans. Uncle in Hastings always did the same. Then they crop November into December.
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02 Apr 22, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
You need some warmth greenhouse effect, try plant seeding in some moonlight or artificial light small amounts of spagnum moss on bottom Ive used not too damp as mold can effect seedling you may not see it good luck.with planting..
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06 Oct 21, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
I took a look at my Broad Beans today. They have an infestation of very small insects. could they be Aphids? Thanks in advance> Cheers Pete
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08 Oct 21, Deidre (Australia - temperate climate)
Highly likely Pete. Ideally, sit on your hands as the ladybugs and parasitic wasps will take care of the aphid population.
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02 Mar 23, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate)
My broad beans were overtaken by aphids. I tried a pyrethrum spray but the aphids won. All the stalks and leaves were totally covered. Any thoughts?
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06 Sep 21, Nigel (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
My beans have been flowering for 2 months. Lots of continuous flowers but so far no beans. Ideas please.
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27 Sep 21, Steve (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My understanding is that you have to wait for the bees to arrive to pollonate the plant. I had the same issue last year as well. Just need to wait a bit longer
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07 Sep 21, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I had the same problem in sub-tropical Australia last. They probably prefer a cooler climate like yours. I put it down to wind last year although I have no idea. Maybe google about it or ring an agricultural dept.
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26 Aug 21, adrienne Margaret mcgrath (New Zealand - temperate climate)
my broad beans are only about two foot high and have flowers,?
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20 Aug 21, Richard Stancliffe (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Are the plants frost tolerant? We get -5degC frosts through to the end of October. I have a dozen 30cm plants to plant out. Cheers
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Showing 21 - 30 of 344 comments
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Yes, the beans come from the flowers. Keep an eye on them - you will notice a little tiny pod that looks like a pea pod coming from the bottom of the flower as it withers. The pods then grow quite fast. They are ready to pick whenever you are ready to eat them. You can actually pick them early (when ther are the size of your pinkie finger) and cook them whole as you would with green beans. However most people pick them when they are the thickness of a thumb, and about 2 times the length of a thumb, or even bigger (you will get bigger beans). Split open the pod, and extract the beans. They should look white. Blanch them for a minute in boiling water, and the white skin on the outside will go wrinkly. It's a simple matter of popping the green beans out of the white skins, and you are ready to eat them, or cook with them further. They are lovely in frittatas and risotto. Once the harvest is over, you can cut up the plants and plough them back into the soil as compost, or simply add them to your compost heap. That way the plant is useful twice. Good luck!

- Michelle

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