Growing Broad Beans
A Basic Guide for Growing Broad Beans
If you or your family consumes quite a lot of broad beans, then you might want to consider growing broad beans in your own garden. Growing these beans yourself will not only cut down on your grocery shopping expenditures, but the convenience of being able to stroll out into your yard and grab some fresh beans for dinner is undeniable! Whether you are an experienced vegetable gardener or looking for a beginner’s venture, growing broad beans could be a beneficial and rewarding project for you! So if you’re ready for the challenge, let’s have a look at what it takes to grow broad beans in a home garden.
The first step in growing broad beans is first determining whether they will even grow in the area that you live in. Broad beans, also known as fava beans, can grow in temperatures between 40 and 75 degrees F, although they grow best in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. For most areas, this makes broad beans a winter crop. This crop needs to be planted during early autumn in order for it to have the full 80 – 100 days it requires to mature for harvest.
The next item on the list is deciding if you have the ideal space to accommodate this plant. It is rather bushy and can grow as large as four and a half feet tall. The amount of space needed when growing broad beans really depends on how many people will be eating them and how often they will be consumed. A rough estimate to shoot for is to plant four to eight broad beans per person. It’s always better to have a larger harvest rather than not enough, as you can always use them later.
These beans should be planted about an inch deep into the ground with at least four or five inches apart. The best method of farming for this type of crop is in rows, with at least two feet of space between each row. So, say you have three people in your household who likes broad beans as a side dish once in a while. Four beans per person works out to 12 beans being planted total. Each bean needs to have about four inches of space between each other, with an added one inch of space to account for the space the bean itself will be planted in. That means at least 56 inches, or four and a half feet, of growing space if you were to plant them in one continuous row. Of course, you can break this up into two rows of two and a half feet, but you’ll have to account for the two-foot spacing between each row.
Broad beans also like to have full sunlight when they grow. Do you have a sunny spot in your garden that will accommodate the amount of beans you intend to plant? Bear in mind that these beans will be growing in the autumn and winter seasons, so try to find a suitable spot that will receive at least six hours of sunlight each day. The soil should also have good drainage so that water will not pool around the roots of the plants. Planting your fava beans in ditch-like formation is definitely a no-no, as the water will have difficulty draining from the area.
When you initially plant your broad beans, it’s a good idea to mix a little compost in with the soil. This will ensure that the plants get a good, nutritious start, however bear in mind that they will not require any additional manure or compost applications aside from the initial planting. Water the soil directly after planting the beans. Just when the soil starts to feel dry to the touch, it will be time to water them again. This may not even be necessary if rainfall is adequate in your area. The soil should be kept moist while the broad beans are flowering and when the pods are being formed.
Harvest time is when the real fun starts! If you want to use your broad beans fresh—in the same way many people use sugar snap peas—then you should harvest your beans when they are the size of peas. They can be allowed to grow to maturity and then used as shelled beans as well. The overall time that elapses between planting the beans and harvesting them is typically around 85 days, so be ready to pick some beans!
Growing broad beans is not a difficult project. In fact, many gardeners find this crop to be quite easy to grow without the need for constant maintenance. Plus, this legume makes a great addition to other cold-weather harvests such as beet root, cabbage, and turnips.