Ruqayyah Snyder
Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are a fast-growing, cool-weather annual vegetable. They are easy to grow and can be planted in either early spring or autumn. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know to successfully grow broad beans in Australia, from preparing the soil to harvesting your beans. We will also discuss the different varieties of broad beans available and provide tips on how to deal with common pests and diseases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soil type | Well-drained, loose, loamy with a slightly acidic to neutral pH |
| Sunlight | Full to partial sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight on most days) |
| Sowing time | Spring or autumn, or late winter indoors |
| Plant spacing | 15-20cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart |
| Watering | Average needs, drought-tolerant, but water well when flowering |
| Harvesting | When pods are 6cm long for tender beans, or wait until pods are bulging with beans |
| Common pests and diseases | Blackfly, pea and bean weevils, broad bean seed beetles, fungal diseases, rust, powdery mildew, fusarium root rot, mosaic virus, broad bean chocolate spot |
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What You'll Learn
Planting times and seasons
Broad beans can be sown at various times from autumn to late spring, depending on the growing conditions and variety. In warmer regions or very sheltered sites, they can be sown in late autumn for an early harvest in May. In colder areas, it is recommended to start the seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, before transplanting them outdoors when the weather has improved.
Broad beans are a cool-weather crop, and long, cool growing seasons are best. They can be sown outdoors in spring or autumn, 20 cm apart, in rows 45-60 cm apart. If you live in a cold area, have heavy soil, or a problem with mice, sow seeds under cover first and plant the young plants outdoors six weeks later.
In Australia, broad beans can be sown in autumn for a crop the following year. They can also be sown in late winter or early spring for a harvest in late spring or early summer. The timing of sowing will depend on the climate and variety, with some hardy varieties suitable for autumn sowing and others for late winter or spring.
Broad bean plants grown from seed indoors can be transplanted outdoors in early to mid-spring. It is important to harden them off first to avoid growth checks. When transplanting, space the plants 15-23 cm apart, with single rows 45 cm apart or double rows 23 cm apart, with 60 cm between each double row.
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Soil and site preparation
Broad beans, also known as fava beans, are a fast-growing, cool-weather annual vegetable that can be planted in either early spring or autumn. They are easy to grow and do not require fertilisation.
Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered growing site with well-drained soil. If you are planting in the ground, weed the area thoroughly, then fork in plenty of well-rotted manure or homemade garden compost—at least two bucketfuls per square metre/yard—to improve moisture retention. If you are planting in containers, make sure they are at least 40cm wide and filled with peat-free multi-purpose or loam-based compost. Ideally, do this a few weeks before sowing or planting, to allow the ground to settle.
If you are practising no-dig, mulch the soil with organic matter ahead of sowing or planting directly into the mulch. Alternatively, if you are planting in raised beds, be aware that broad beans grow quite large, so only dwarf cultivars, like 'Bell Bean', perform well in containers.
Broad beans can tolerate a range of soil types, as long as there is good drainage. A loose, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is ideal. If your soil is nutrient-poor, working compost into the soil can help with growth.
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Container gardening
Broad beans, also known as fava beans, horse beans, or pigeon beans, are a popular choice for container gardening. They are simple to grow and can be planted directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in spacious containers. Dwarf varieties, which only reach about 45-50 cm (18-20 inches) tall, are ideal for growing in containers due to their compact size.
When choosing a container for your broad beans, select a pot or planter that is at least 30-35 cm in diameter and has good drainage holes. Fill your container with good-quality compost or a premium potting mix, and plant 3-4 seeds evenly spaced about 2 cm (1 inch) deep. Water the seeds well. Place the container in a sunny and sheltered spot, such as a greenhouse, cold frame, or windowsill. If you don't have a sheltered spot, you can keep the container outdoors, but your first crop may be delayed.
Broad beans typically take 15-30 weeks to be ready for harvest, depending on when they are sown. They prefer cool temperatures and tend to wither in the summer heat, so it's important to time your planting accordingly. In Australia, broad beans are typically sown in the spring, from February to April. Some hardier varieties can be sown in autumn, from October to November, for an early crop.
Once your broad bean plants start flowering, give them a good soak, and again two weeks later, to improve the harvest. Broad beans in containers require frequent watering throughout the growing season, as they dry out more quickly than plants in the ground. Apply a high-potassium liquid fertiliser, such as tomato feed, every two weeks to promote flowering and pod production.
Harvest your broad beans when the pods are about 7.5 cm (3 inches) long and swollen. Pick them when the beans are just starting to bulge in the pod for the best taste and texture. Broad beans are best picked and used fresh, but if you're not going to eat them right away, you can freeze or dry them for later use.
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Pests and diseases
Broad beans are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases, but they are still considered a hassle-free vegetable and are great for beginner gardeners. Here are some of the most common pests and diseases to watch out for when growing broad beans in Australia:
Pests
- Aphids: Small (2-4mm long) sap-sucking insects that congregate on the new shoots or the undersides of leaves. They can cause leaves to wilt or become discoloured, and they excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and other pests. To manage aphids, remove them by spraying with a garden hose, apply a soap or alcohol spray, or encourage predatory insects to your garden.
- Snails and slugs: Protect seedlings with a light sprinkling of snail and slug bait.
- Pea beetles: 5mm long brown to grey beetles that emerge from hibernation in spring. They feed on the leaves and flowers of plants, and female beetles lay single eggs on the outside of pea pods. Monitor crops during spring and use insecticide spray if beetles are found.
- Caterpillars: These can attack the pods of broad beans.
- Redlegged earth mite: These pests attack the seedlings of broad beans.
- Vegetable weevil: A common pest of broad beans.
- Nematodes: These pests can affect the roots of broad beans.
- Blackfly: Pinching off the tops of the plants when the first pods start to develop can help deter this pest.
- Heliothis caterpillars and thrips: These insects have been known to attack broad beans.
Diseases
- Chocolate spot: This is an airborne fungal disease that causes reddish-brown spots on all parts of the plant. It is the major disease affecting broad beans in Western Australia. The disease spreads most rapidly under humid or wet conditions in spring. It can survive in the soil for several years, so a rotation of at least two years is recommended before growing broad beans in the same area.
- Rust: A fungal disease that causes brown to orange spots or patches on the foliage, especially when temperatures are between 10-20°C and humidity is high.
- Fungal diseases: To avoid these, don't water the leaves of the plants.
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Harvesting and cooking
Broad beans are one of the first crops of the year and are easy to harvest. Harvest the beans when the pods are just 6 cm long for the most tender beans. If you want to eat the beans in their pods, harvest them when they're young, before they become tough or bitter. To eat them shelled, wait until the pods are bulging with beans. After harvesting, leave the plants in the ground for as long as possible to fix nitrogen in the soil.
Broad beans are nutritious and can be cooked in a variety of ways. Fresh pods can be eaten whole like mangetouts when young, or the beans can be left to mature inside the pods. The beans can be cooked fresh or prepared for freezing by blanching in boiling water for three minutes and then plunging them into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Broad beans can be used in salads, stews, and soups.
Broad beans are generally trouble-free in cooler weather, but warm temperatures can attract pests such as aphids and black flies. Black bean aphids multiply on soft, young shoot tips in spring and can stunt growth. To prevent this, pinch out the tender shoot tips once the first flowers appear. Pea and bean weevils are another pest, but they rarely cause severe damage. Pick off any beetles that you see.
Broad beans are susceptible to fungal diseases, especially in wet conditions. Common fungal diseases include powdery mildew, fusarium root rot, mosaic virus, and broad bean chocolate spot. This disease causes reddish-brown spots all over the plant and is more common in plants sown in autumn in damp, humid weather or in crowded conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Broad beans can be sown at various times from autumn to late spring, depending on your growing conditions and the variety. If you live in a cold area, have heavy soil, or a problem with mice, sow seeds under cover first and plant the young plants outdoors about six weeks later.
Broad beans are easy to grow from seed and can be grown in the ground, in raised beds, and in large pots or containers. Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered growing site with well-drained soil. Sow seeds about 1 to 2 inches deep and at least 6 inches apart. Rows should be roughly 2 to 3 feet apart.
Broad beans don't require fertilisation. However, working compost into the soil can help with growth, especially if the soil is nutrient-poor. Water the plants regularly once flowers appear and hoe between the rows to keep weeds down. Pinch out the growing tips as soon as the flowers appear to prevent attacks of blackfly.
Harvest broad beans when the pods are just 6cm long for the most tender beans. If you want to eat the beans in their pods, they should be harvested young before they become tough or bitter. To eat them shelled, wait until the pods are bulging with beans.
