Just because legumes are known to improve the soil in which they grow, it does not mean that they needn't be planted in good soil themselves. This is especially true of Beans. If you dig in well-rotted manure at the time of planting, your bean plants will grow better, be more free from disease and give you a better yield.

Fava Bean Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth: 1" - 2"
Row Spacing: 20"-30"
Seed Spacing: 2"-3"
Days to Germination: 10-14 days
Germination Temperature: 40°-65°F

An old-fashioned favorite, Fava Beans are a member of the Vetch family and, unlike true Beans, are frost hardy. Traditionally sown like Peas, they may be planted in late fall for early spring harvest if winter temperatures stay above 20°E Otherwise, direct sow in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked in a bed well amended with compost and/or well rotted manure as needed. Sow 1" to 2" deep and keep the seedbed moist while germinating Thin the seedlings to about 6" apart. Mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Growing from 3' to 6' tall, these plants will need some support. Fava Beans may be harvested as a green shelling bean in about 65 days, when the pods are deep green and plump. The pods are only edible when very tiny. The shelled beans must be skinned unless eaten very young. To skin them, parboil for 1 minute, cool, then pinch so that the bean pops out of its skin. To shell as dry beans, twist pods to release them or spread pods on a tarp and dance on them to break the beans loose. Store as dry beans when you can no longer nick them with your finger- nail. Fava Beans are delicious in soups, risotto, bean salads or as a simple, healthy side dish.

Beans Show Their Colors
My favorite use for purple-podded Beans is to pick them while slim and tender, along with green and yellow ones, and arrange all three on a platter with a hummus dip.

Beans, Beans & More Beans

Shade Tolerance

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties