Broad beans, also popularly known as fava beans, also go by the name of Windsor beans, horse beans, or field beans. These cool weather loving beans are easy to care for and grow, and today we'll show you how to grow broad beans, AKA fava beans!
How to Grow Broad Beans/Fava Beans
Before starting, select a variety of broad bean you want to plant. Each variety has a slightly different taste and can grow to a different size, so it's important to choose the right variety for your garden.
For example, the Sutton variety grows to about 12 inches in length, making it the perfect beans for small gardens and balconies.
The Imperial Green Longpod variety can produce very large, 15 inch beans which make them better for bigger gardens.
Planting Broad Beans
- Start broad beans in early spring, once all danger of frost has passed.
- For those in warmer climates, start beans in the fall, as they are a cool weather crop.
- Very cold climates should start seeds indoors and then transplant once all danger of frost has passed.
- Till the ground before planting, and be sure not to plant around any plants in the onion family.
- Choose a spot in full sun, and soil with good drainage.
- Moisten the soil before planting, and poke a 2 inch hole into the ground.
- Place them 8 inches apart in double rows.
- Plant the bean seeds or starts downwards (with the dark spot/eye of the seed downwards).
Broad Bean Care
Broad beans are a vine vegetable which means they love to climb up! Be sure to install a trellis or plant them near a fence. If you're growing in a pot or container, built a cage for them to climb onto.
Water your broad beans sparingly and deeply, and avoid overhead watering.
Pull out any and all weeds surrounding your bean plants. The soil should be neat and weed free at all times!
Once the plant starts producing pods, pinch off the new sprouts. If you don't do this, the plant will overproduce.
Keep an eye out for aphids. These little bugs like to live at the top of the plant, so be sure to keep them away by using a natural insecticide or pinching off the top of the plant.
So now that you know how to grow broad beans, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting!
Like this post? Share and Pin 🙂
