Fava Bean

Fava beans, also called broad beans, are annual legumes grown mainly for their seeds and pods. They are cool-season crops with a growing cycle similar to a sweet or English pea, and as legumes they add nitrogen to the soil where they grow. Plants usually grow about 2 to 6 feet (61 to 183 cm) tall.

Sow fava bean seeds outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Sow 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) apart, in rows 18 to 36 inches (46 to 91 cm) apart. In milder areas, hardier varieties can instead be sown in autumn to crop in late spring. Otherwise, sow in succession from mid-spring for a harvest from early summer to early autumn.

Choose a sunny spot, since plants need full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. A sunny, sheltered position with fertile, moist but well drained soil suits them best. They prefer cool weather, and temperatures in the 60s °F (about 16 to 21 °C) are ideal. Plan on four to five months from sowing to harvest. Inoculants can increase yields.

Tall varieties may need staking. Pinching off the tips of the shoots can slow and delay black bean aphid problems and may increase the harvest. Dwarf varieties can be grown in containers.

Aphids are a common concern, since the plants are susceptible to aphid damage. A virus spread by aphids causes leaf and pod blackening and spotting, and it is most common in hot weather above 80 °F (27 °C). Plants may also be attacked by broad bean seed beetle, pea and bean weevil and blackfly. They may also get broad bean rust and broad bean chocolate spot.

Pick individual pods when the green shell beans inside are plump. Pods are usually picked while green. For dry beans, wait until the pods are dry before harvesting.

Ingestion can be poisonous to some individuals. Avoid eating large amounts of raw seeds, because excessive consumption of raw seed can cause favism, a severe anemia that destroys red blood cells, in people with a genetic disposition to the disease. Breathing in the pollen can also cause favism in these people.