How to Plant Fava Beans

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are native to Africa and Asia, but are cultivated for food around the world. They are erect plants that can grow to about 5-1/2 feet high. They produce small white flowers with black and purple markings prior to forming seed pods. Fava beans grow best in temperate climates where the temperatures are moderate year round.

Tiller
Fertilizer
Compost

Instructions

- 1
  Till the soil where the fava beans will be planted about six months prior to the planting date. Remove any weeds that grow as soon as they appear. Ensure the weeds' roots are removed.
- 2
  Wait until after the final frost of the year, and apply a fertilizer with 5-10-10 NPK or similar into the soil. Use a tiller to mix the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of about 6 inches. Apply about one cup of fertilizer per 50 feet of soil.
- 3
  Plant the fava beans in small holes about 1-1/2 inches deep. Use decomposed compost to refill the hole the seed was planted in to prevent the soil from crusting over and preventing the bean from sprouting.
- 4
  Space the holes between 3 and 6 inches apart. Plant the fava beans in rows, allowing 24 inches of space between the rows to ensure the root systems have room to develop and to prevent the beans from competing with each other.
- 5
  Water the beans immediately after planting to compact the soil and signal the beginning of growth. Provide about 1 inch of water after planting, and then repeat once per week.

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