Fava Bean
vegetable
Cool-season legume — sow in early spring or fall (overwinters in mild climates). Fixes nitrogen. Pinch growing tips at first flower to deter blackfly.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–9
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam, clay
- pH
- Neutral, alkaline
- Spacing
- 6 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 4 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 80 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Keep apart from
Recommended varieties
- Aquadulce Claudia85 daysseed
Classic long-podded overwintering fava — very hardy.
- Windsor75 daysseed
Standard large-seeded fava; rich, creamy flavor.
- Crimson Flowered80 daysseed
Ornamental and edible — stunning red blooms.
Add Fava Bean to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →