How to Plant Broad Beans

How to Grow Broad Beans (Fava Beans)

How to Plant Broad Beans

Broad beans, like other legumes, are planted by soaking the seeds in water for an hour before planting to speed up germination. The soaked seeds are then sown at a depth of 5 cm in the soil, with a spacing of 10–15 cm between each seed. If planting seedlings, leave a distance of 20–30 cm between each plant to prevent overcrowding, which can encourage the spread of diseases.

Another method is to plant them in hills, sowing 5–6 seeds per hill with a spacing of 1.4 meters between each hill.

For tall varieties, it’s essential to provide support early on. Even shorter varieties may need support as the pods grow heavier. Once the plants start to grow, some farmers pinch off the growing tip or remove part of the upper stem and some developing leaves when beans form on the lower part of the plant. These practices help to:

• Speed up the harvest.
• Improve airflow and sunlight penetration to the plant’s center.
• Prevent fungal diseases and pest problems.

When to Plant Broad Beans

Broad beans thrive in cooler seasons and are usually sown in February for fresh use. For cover crops, they are planted from September to November. In Mediterranean regions with mild summers (below 24°C) and rare frosts in winter, broad beans can be grown year-round.

For optimal growth, they are typically sown between May and August to avoid delayed flowering or slow seed development. Another option is to plant them between September and October for fresh beans to enjoy with various dishes.

Caring for Broad Beans

Broad beans are among the oldest cultivated crops globally. Here are some care tips for optimal growth:

1. Watering:
   • Water the plants before the soil completely dries out, avoiding overwatering.
   • Keep the soil moist, especially during flowering and pod formation.
2. Soil:
   • Plant broad beans in well-drained soil.
   • Use fertile soil enriched with organic fertilizers. Broad beans form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, which helps them produce usable nitrogen.
3. Weed Control:
   • Keep the planting beds free of weeds.
   • Practice shallow cultivation to avoid damaging the roots.
4. Pest Protection:
   • Protect broad beans from pests by:
     • Spraying plants with a hose to remove aphids.
     • Using sticky traps to combat fleas and beetles.
     • Using horticultural fleece or applying insecticides to deter leafhoppers.
     • Spraying insecticides to eliminate mites (note: white or yellow mites are not harmful to beans).
5. Disease Prevention:
   • Reduce the risk of diseases like bacterial blight, root rot, or bean mosaic by:
     • Planting disease-resistant varieties.
     • Avoiding handling wet plants.
     • Keeping planting beds clean.
     • Removing and discarding damaged plants to prevent spreading infections.
     • Rotating planting locations annually to reduce soil-borne diseases.

Harvesting Broad Beans

Broad beans are ready for harvest when the pods turn green and are full of large, shiny beans. After harvesting, the beans remain edible for 1–2 days if stored in the refrigerator.