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

19 Jul 09, Emma (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
To Ben & Tony, if you have had flowers then I'm sure you will get pods. The flowers drop off and then the pods will form, just give it a bit more time ! Tony, I've done square foot gardening this year and I crammed 6 plants into a square foot and had a great crop. Patience is truly a virtue when it comes to gardening !
19 Jul 09, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
thank you for reducing my worries about my broad bean plants not setting either. I was informed that i may have planted my broad beans too close together and the plants were not getting enough sunlight? They flowered well compared to last year, but now the flowers have fallen and no setting yet . . .hopefully i just have to be patient. :)
17 Jul 09, ben (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
there have been no beans only flowers falling off can u help me so email me at [email protected] thanks
17 Jul 09, Emma (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
Good luck Marion, hope you get a decent crop. Pinching the tops out is supposed to help deter the blackfly too. Did you know you can eat the tops like baby spinach? They're nice steamed and tossed in some butter and seasoning.
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
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 :-))
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
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 :-))
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!
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?
Showing 311 - 320 of 344 comments

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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