Colorful Fava Beans
I generally plant fava beans in my potager every year. I think it is because they remind me of Europe. Fava beans were a staple in northern Europe before the introduction and popularity of the potato. When I’m in Europe, I see fava beans for sale at outdoor markets, and mentioned often on restaurant menus. While fava beans have been cultivated in Europe for centuries, fava beans are relatively new to the American farm, market, and garden.
I absolutely adore their catchy black and white flowers which remind me of black-eyed peas. Oh yes, and I love their slightly nutty buttery taste, too. Fava beans are also known by the names; Broad beans, Windsor beans, English beans, and a few others. (Please note, in some cases, a few people can be allergic to, or have an enzyme deficiency to fava beans. I have never experienced this or heard of this personally before, but have seen it in my reading).
In mild climates such as Southern California, I sow my fava beans in the fall, and patiently wait 150-180 days later, for harvest in spring. Fava beans are a legume, and require a long, cool growing season. Fava beans are also considered a beneficial cover crop, because they are high in nitrogen, and return nitrogen back, enriching the soil where they are grown.
I plant my fava bean seeds in a large full sun plot in my potager, where their height won’t affect my other growing vegetables. Seeds need to be planted about 2″ deep, and 6″ apart. Allow for about 24″ between your rows. Mature fava bean plants, do not require staking or support, and can reach 4′ to 5′ high yielding apple green pods, 6″ to 8″ inches long, with 5 to 7 beans in each pod.
The best reason for growing fresh fava beans is their wonderful taste and versatility. You can utilize young tender fava bean pods whole, or shelled when mature. Fava beans can be used in light spring pastas, hearty soups, pureed as a dip, sauteed as a vegetable, or used as a substitute for lima beans. It seems like every year, I see yet another creative way to use fava beans in spring recipes.
If you are not familiar with fava beans, I whole-heartedly recommend growing them sometime. Fava bean seeds are easy to find through your favorite seed catalogs. Territorial Seed and Botanical Interests both carry fava beans. In the garden, fava beans are quite striking in appearance, easy to grow and cultivate, add nitrogen back to your soil, and reap a tasty spring legume.
Please share if you are familiar with, and grow fava beans in your garden? Please comment on your favorite way to enjoy fava beans.
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
If I recall, Fava beans are an expensive purchase in a gourmet food store, so this would be worth growing! And so beautiful, I love the foliage!
I’ve been reading Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Harvest. I’m thinking these would grow well in a hoop house here on my mountain with other winter crops. I’m printing up your article and hopefully will be able to try this next fall.
And did I mention that I love the fact that they can be used as a cover crop? What’s not to love about this unusual bean? Thanks for sharing it with us!
Amy, I think Territorial Seed, also under “cover crops,” has bulk fava beans for sale, plus the individual seed packet for your vegetable garden. Yes, I have seen Elliot’s book, and it is wonderful. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
I have a few questions:
* Once the harvest is complete, do you till the dried plants under?
* Can the beans be dried?
* Can you think of any down sides of growing fava beans (pests, weeds, disease)?
Thanks for the suggestion.
Maybelline,
I cut up my fava bean plants, and compost them. You could turn them under in your soil, and leave them, too. Just by planting fava beans in a particular spot, you will be adding nitrogen to your soil. Territorial Seed also has “fava bean” cover crop quantities for sale, too.
Yes, you can dry the beans and use them at another time. I have read that sometimes fava beans are prone to some sort of small black insect. I have not had any problems growing my fava beans, only how to share all the fava beans I usually yield. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
I have grown Favas the last 2 years here in New England with moderate success. First off, once you’ve eaten them fresh sauteed lightly with some good olive oil and a little garlic you will not wish to dry and save any of them! The issues arise from our zone 5 conditions. Frozen ground until pretty much April 1st or so and then 80+ degree heat 30-ish days later, then bring on the aphids !
Even Al Gore would be left speechless at the varying climate here.
Scott, I would imagine your climate to be somewhat similar to Northern Europe, fine for growing fava beans. Yes, fava beans lightly sauteed with good olive oil and garlic is a wonderful way to prepare them. Thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal
Bonnie, the climate differs in that we don’t have the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream therefore our extremes are more well, extreme. We do however have quite a bit more sun due to our latitude.
Amy, that’s a great idea (I’ve read a couple of Mr. Coleman’s books too)I’m going to give your idea a try this fall.
By the way, shelling Favas is a great kid-friendly (family) activity. At least that’s what my twin girls told me.
Wonderful blog site by the way, keep up the good work.
I grew them in the fall of ’08 for Spring harvest last year. They were seedlings that I found at Armstrong. I was disappointed that I didn’t seem them last fall as I really wanted to grow them again. I’ll definitely get the seeds for later this year.
I found two volunteers that sprouted up a few weeks ago. One of them I was able to transplant, but the other one got trampled. I know it’s not the season to grow them, but since it did decide to spring to life on its own, I’m letting it grow.
One of our favorite salads is fava bean, tomato and shaved parmaggiano over a small bed of romaine. When they are large, I boil them for a moment, shell them and then put them in the fridge to chill and marinate in a lemon vinagrette.
Heather, thanks for sharing. I’ll have to try your fava bean and tomato salad…..VintageGardenGal
I have been growin fava beans for 10 years in Minnisota and before that in the unper pennisula of Michigan. Last year I put in a second crop after the first one and it did really well. I plant mine the first of April and the do just fine.
Kim, thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal
@Amy, Fava beans are expensive at the whole foods store. I couldn’t find them anywhere else so I am buying seeds to grow them.
A report shows that Fava beans burn belly fat in women. Men not so much but the women had a significant reduction in belly fat when given fava beans for a couple of weeks.
Shonda, you’ll love fava beans. Yes, burn belly fat! Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal
Do the pods come after the flowering? waiting and waiting for pods…
Dora, yes flowers first. The pods blend in easily. All of a sudden there are big pods…VintageGardenGal
All way bought fava beans in Italian market. This year I decided to plant my own in Indiana. Hope to get a good crop. Would like to know if there is a special process in drying them.
Frank, I haven’t tried dried fava beans, because they are so yummy off of their plants. I would think they would dry easily, and just like other beans. Try searching the internet for drying beans. Thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal
Frank, Lat year I blanched some for about 2 minutes, took off the outer shell and froze them (using the seal a meal), and they turned out very good.
I was wondering if you knew about how much each seed yielded. Thanks!
Laura, great question. I’ve never actually counted the bean pods from each plant. I would estimate that each seed grows a fava plant that yields 10-20 bean pods…VintageGardenGal
Help! I’ m growing lava beans for the first time this year. Great spot,full sun and great soil. As of 2 weeks ago I had big beautiful plants starting to flower. Now my plants are starting to falter. It’s been getting hot and even though I keep up with watering the flowers are browning and falling off. The plants are looking wilted and noticed some yellowing on the leaves. ? They are planted between some Romano beans and bell peppers. Also nearby are tomatoes and climbing asparagus beans. Everything else is growing like crazy- except my favas. I live in NW NJ, zone 5-6. We had a long cool wet spring, but now the heat is here85-95 and humid. My garden is on the shore of my lake so there is some decent air circulation from the breeze. Any suggestipns
Christine, fava beans need cooler weather. In mild climate winters, start your fava beans from seed in the fall. Gorgeous beans are ready early spring for all of those wonderful spring recipes. Try them again next fall. Thanks for sharing…..VintageGardenGal
I live in Brooklyn, NY. If I plant in the fall, will Favas make it through our harsh winter? If I start in the spring, I am afraid they will fail like what Christine said because of heat. But what about extreme cold? I am confused as to when to plant, given what I am reading. Thank you.
Yuko, no your optimum time to plant fava beans is March to May when soil temperatures are between 43-75 degrees F. Thanks for your comment….VintageGardenGal
I plant favas as a cover crop and for the beans in a rather large garden in Salinas, Calif. This year I harvested 300 lbs. of beans in the pod and saved about 15-20 pounds of seeds. I don’t know where my original seeds came from but I get dry seeds that vary from dark purple to light tan with a lot that have two or three colors. All of the beans taste the same to me and my Sicilian, Portuguese, and American friends love getting them (free). Starting in early November I plant at two week intervals till my 12oo square feet are covered. I always have seed left over. How long do you think they last? I would like to give some away if they are viable.
Joseph, I think lava beans last at least a few years, if keep dry. I would certainly share them with your circle of friends. Thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal
I got my fava beans in the mail the other day. I plan to plant these as a cover crop in my raised garden beds. How long does the nitrogen last in the soil before having to fertilize? It would be great to last the entire growing season!
Nifty Gardener, fava beans are a great crop. How long the benefits of planting fava beans, and nitrogen, will be determined by what you plant after, You will have to experiment. Thanks for your great comment….VintageGardenGal
When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time withg my grandparents who came from the Azores. My grandfather had a large area where he grew a lot of row plants. Fava’s being one, I wish I learned how to grow them as I have to rely on the farmers mkt. now. We just had them boiled in salt water as a snack, I like to make a crostini with fava’s cooked and pureed with garlic, olive oil and spices, mmmm creamy and delicious. They are also wonderful in a spring soup.
Valerie, your recipe for favas pureed with garlic and olive oil sounds divine. Thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal