Broad Bean

Bean, Broad (Vicia faba)

Sds/g: 1                                 Feed Requirements: Low

Planting & Harvesting Guide:

Cultural Notes:
- Also known as Faba or fava beans. They are frost hardy to about -5 oC but do not like hot weather. Broad beans may be sown mid to late autumn and overwintered to provide food in early spring, 3-4 weeks before seed sown in spring. Sow seed 3-5 cm deep 20-30 cm (spring sown) to 30-40 cm (autumn/winter sown) apart in rows 60-70 cm apart. Provided there is moisture in the soil irrigation is not recommended until about 2 weeks after planting as too much water at seeding slows growth and may increase root rots. Some varieties are also grown for forage and as a green-manure or cover crop.

Problems:
- Poorly drained soils and extended bad weather can cause black spots on the leaves and even plants to die.

Harvest:
- Immature beans can be eaten pods and all, the mature beans should be podded and eaten in stews, soups, boiled or roasted for a snack food. Once they start to become too firm and starchy it is best to leave them on the plant a bit longer then picked and left to dry, which can be added to soups, ground to a flour and used for falafel or saved for seed stock.