How to Grow Broad Beans
Vicia faba
Broad beans thrive in cool weather, full sun, and fertile, well-drained soil. Sow in late autumn (hardy types) for an early crop or in late winter–spring for summer picking. Support rows with canes and string to stop wind rock. Blackfly favour soft shoot tips—pinch out tops at first pods set. Keep watered during flowering and pod fill. Harvest when pods are well filled but still green and tender; older beans can be shelled for freezing or dried.
When to Start
Direct sow outdoors as soon as soil reaches 5°C — typically early to mid spring. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks earlier for a head start.
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Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- Rarely needed — beans fix their own nitrogen. Mulch with compost.
- Autumn sowing (November) gives earlier crops. Pinching out tips is the best blackfly control.
Growing Conditions
- Min. soil temperature
- 5°C+
- Germination temperature
- 8–15°C
- Sow indoors
- —
- Transplant out
- —
- First harvest
- —
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Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 20 cm |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Sow depth | 5 cm |
| Mature height | 120 cm |
| Mature spread | 30 cm |
Often planted in double rows, with the 60 cm spacing between each pair of rows.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Black Bean Aphid
Identification: Colonies of black insects on shoot tips and flowers
- Pinch out growing tips after 4-5 flower trusses
- Spray with water
- Encourage ladybirds
- Fatty acid sprays
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 5°C |
| Germination temperature | 8–15°C |
| Base growth temperature | 4°C |
| Min. daylength to start | 8.5h |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | day neutral |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Broad Beans?
- Plant Broad Beans 20cm apart with 60cm between rows.
- When can I harvest Broad Beans?
- Broad Beans is ready to harvest approximately 75 days after transplanting.
- Is Broad Beans frost hardy?
- Broad Beans is classified as Hardy.
