Organic Fava Bean Seeds
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Product Information
Fava beans are an incredible plant having the capability to fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre into the soil. For this reason, these Broad Windsor Fava beans are used as a valuable cover crop and green manure that also makes for tasty meals! For culinary purposes, they are wonderful in stir-fries, tossed into pasta, and made into dips. The possibilities are endless!
On our farm, we grow Fava beans as a cover crop to improve the soil. Fresh beans are eaten and the leftovers are feed to our animals. Unlike most bean varieties, Fava bean prefers the cooler season of the year. Bees love the flowers too! It really is an incredible plant with so many uses and should be grown on every sustainable farm.
Planting by Zones
Zones 9-10
- Unlike most varieties of beans, Fava beans enjoy cool weather. They are grown during our cool season in Zones 9 and 10. We plant them in October and let them overwinter. These edible beans are a great cover crop. As with all plants in the bean family, they help fix nitrogen in the soil.
Zones 2-8
- Can be sown directly in the ground if winter temperatures stay above 10°F.
Planting Fava Bean Seeds
- We recommend you direct sow. Plant seeds 1″ deep into well-worked and thoroughly watered garden soil. Favas thrive in full sun.
- Fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer once the seedlings have germinated and have a first set of true leaves.
- Space plants at least 7″ apart.
Growing Fava Bean
- Favas are easy to grow and can help improve your garden soil while providing you with delicious edible pods. They also produce tons of biomass that is beneficial to compost.
- Keep weed-free by pulling any weeds that may compete with your plants.
- Fava beans do not climb; no additional growing support is needed.
Succession Planting Fava Bean
- If you plant more than just a few plants, it is likely you’ll have more than you know what to do with! For a continuous harvest, plant seeds every 2-3 weeks.
Growing Fava Bean in Containers
- Fava varieties vary greatly in size. Check the height of the particular variety you are growing to make sure it will work in a container. Most grow best in raised beds, in ground, or in containers that are at least 20″ deep.
Harvesting Fava Bean
- Harvest as soon as the beans have swelled in their pods.
Southern California Pro-tips
- In areas of Zones 9 and 10, fava is an easy crop, sown in the cool season.
- Mulch heavily around your plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
- During our hottest months August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. During this time using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat.
- Do not overhead water as this promotes disease.
Companion Flowers/Crops
- Fava beans grow well with other winter crops including broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.
Additional Learning Resources
- New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
- Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
- Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue for beans at the UC Pest Management site.
Jacqueline Todd –
These beans were new to me but were a wonderful surprise to watch grow. The flowers are lovely and bees were all over them as soon as the sun came up. Nice production from the plants – it’s a keeper in my garden now.