Crops › Fava Bean
How to grow Fava Bean
in the US
Sow March to April, plant out May, harvest June to July. About 85 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Fava beans, or broad beans as I call 'em, are a cracking choice for any backyard, dead easy to grow, honestly. They're part of the Fabaceae family, you know, so they're proper good for your soil too, putting nitrogen back in as they grow. Big, plump pods with those tasty beans inside, well worth the effort.
Sowing
Right, sowing fava beans is pretty straightforward. You'll want to direct sow them after your last frost date, you know, when the weather's starting to warm up proper. For my friends in USDA Zone 3 or 4, that's usually April or May, Zone 5 gets going March to May, Zone 6 and 7 maybe a bit earlier in March or February, and you folks in warmer spots like Zone 9 or 10 can get them in even earlier, or even in the fall. Pop your seeds about 2 inches (5 cm) deep and give them 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) between each plant. If you're doing rows, leave about 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm) between those. Some folks like to inoculate their seeds with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which really does give them a boost, I reckon.
Growing on
If you've started some of the varieties indoors or in a cold frame, you'll want to get them hardened off properly before they go into the ground. Just a week or two outside, gradually getting used to the elements, then plant them out after that last frost, keeping the same 6 to 8 inch (15-20 cm) spacing. Fava beans can get a bit tall, especially if it's windy on your plot, so a bit of support like some canes or netting can stop them from flopping over.
Looking after it
These beans are pretty low maintenance, which is why I'm chuffed with them. They don't need much in the way of feeding, mind, as they make their own nitrogen, so don't go over-fertilizing them. Just keep them watered well, especially when those pods are starting to swell up. You can pinch out the growing tips once the first pods have set, that helps encourage bushier growth and can even deter those pesky aphids.
What goes wrong
Like most plants, fava beans do get a few visitors. Aphids can be a right nuisance, clustering on the tender new growth and those pinched-out tips, so keep an eye out and just squash 'em or blast 'em off with a bit of soapy water. You might also see Mexican bean beetles, bean leaf beetles, or Japanese beetles having a chew; checking your plants regularly is the best way to catch 'em early.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting your fava beans in about 85 days after sowing, usually around June or July, depending on when you got them in. You want to pick the pods when they're plump and firm, but before the beans inside get too big and starchy. Just snap them off the plant. If you end up with a proper glut, you can always blanch and freeze the beans, or just shell them and refrigerate for a few days. They keep pretty well.
To be honest, I always try to pinch out the very top of my fava bean plants once they've set a few good pods; it really does help stop the blackfly from taking over and encourages the plant to put all its energy into those beans.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Aquadulce Claudia A cracking, reliable fava bean, Aquadulce Claudia is a maincrop variety that does well when sown directly outside. Perfect for beginners and those looking for a dependable yield from their garden. | No club votes yet |
| Windsor The Windsor fava bean is another solid performer, often started undercover to get a bit of a head start. It's a traditional choice for those wanting good flavor and reliable beans. | No club votes yet |
| Superaguadulce Superaguadulce is a robust fava bean, known for its consistent performance when sown straight into the ground. This one's a good bet for a steady supply of beans through the season. | No club votes yet |
| Stereo Stereo is a reliable maincrop fava bean variety, often best started off undercover before planting out. It's a good choice for ensuring a strong start and good harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Banner Banner fava beans are a dependable maincrop, perfect for direct sowing in your garden. You'll get plenty of tasty beans from this popular variety, I'm sure. | No club votes yet |
| Broad Windsor Broad Windsor is a proper classic, often started undercover to ensure an earlier crop. It's a fantastic variety for flavor and generous harvests. | No club votes yet |
| De Monica De Monica is a straightforward fava bean variety, happy to be sown outdoors for a decent maincrop. It's a good, solid choice for a reliable yield. | No club votes yet |
| Ratio Ratio is a maincrop fava bean that benefits from an undercover start, giving you a strong plant to put out later. Expect a good harvest of tasty beans from this one. | No club votes yet |
| Masterpiece Green Longpod Masterpiece Green Longpod lives up to its name, giving you long pods packed with beans when sown outdoors. This variety is brilliant if you're after a really good yield. | No club votes yet |
| Ianto’s Return Ianto’s Return is a robust fava bean variety, often started undercover for the best results. It's known for being a reliable performer on the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Extra Precoce a Grano Violetto This one's a bit of a mouthful, Extra Precoce a Grano Violetto, but it's a cracking outdoor-sown fava bean. It's a really interesting variety that's worth a try for something a bit different. | No club votes yet |
| Robin Hood Robin Hood is a dependable maincrop fava bean, often started undercover to give it a good start in life. It’s a good choice for a steady and tasty harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Hangdown Green Hangdown Green is a cracking fava bean variety, perfect for direct sowing outside in your garden. It's known for its good yields and delicious beans. | No club votes yet |
| Wizard Wizard is a reliable maincrop fava bean, often started undercover for an early boost. This variety is great for consistent crops of good quality beans. | No club votes yet |
| Vroma Vroma is a straightforward fava bean variety that performs well when sown directly into the ground. It's a good, honest choice for a reliable harvest. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Fava Bean seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April to May | July to August |
| Zone 4 | April to May | June to August |
| Zone 5 | March to May | June to July |
| Zone 6 | March to April | June to July |
| Zone 7 | February to April | May to July |
| Zone 8 | February to April | May to June |
| Zone 9 | January to November | April to June |
| Zone 10 | October to February | April to May |
Cook the harvest
A luxurious Italian risotto that celebrates spring by stirring in double-peeled fava beans and fresh mint at the finish, preserving their bright color and sweet flavor against the creamy, Parmesan-enriched rice. The key to perfect risotto is patience — adding warm stock gradually and stirring continuously to draw out the starch.
60 min · challengingA light, elegant Italian spring salad with tender fava beans, peppery arugula, paper-thin shavings of aged Pecorino Romano, and a sharp lemon vinaigrette. This is the kind of salad served at the finest Roman trattorias in May when both favas and the young arugula are at their peak. Simple ingredients, impeccable execution.
30 min · mediumThis stunning spring risotto combines the best of the season — double-podded fava beans and sweet peas — stirred into a silky Arborio rice base finished with Parmigiano and butter. The trick is adding the fava beans and peas at the very end so they stay brilliantly green and just-tender rather than turning dull and mushy. It is the kind of risotto that makes the whole effort worthwhile.
50 min · mediumA quick, elegant Roman-style side dish where double-peeled fava beans are warmed in olive oil with garlic, finished with fresh herbs and a snowfall of grated Pecorino Romano. This is the kind of cooking that is more about quality ingredients than technique — the favas must be fresh and the cheese must be good. Ready in under 10 minutes.
28 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: corn, carrots, cucumbers, brassicas, summer savory
Questions people ask
When do you sow Fava Bean in the US?
Sow Fava Bean from March to April in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out May, after the last frost.
How long does Fava Bean take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 85 days, with the harvest June to July.
Which Fava Bean varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Aquadulce Claudia, Windsor, Superaguadulce, Stereo and more.
Track your Fava Bean from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.