Should I sow broad beans in autumn or spring?

Autumn-sown beans (November, hardy cultivars only) crop two to three weeks earlier than spring-sown, get going before blackfly arrives, and are out of the ground in time for a summer succession crop. Spring sowings are faster to set up and avoid the slug and waterlogging risks of overwintering plants. Most UK allotments do both.

What's the difference between Aquadulce and other broad bean varieties?

Aquadulce Claudia is the hardiest UK variety, bred specifically for autumn sowing — it shrugs off our winters as small plants. Bunyards Exhibition and Masterpiece Green Longpod are for spring sowing — bigger pods, sweeter beans, but less winter-hardy. The Sutton is a dwarf variety (45 cm) for windy sites and small gardens.

How do I get rid of blackfly on broad beans?

Pinch out the top 7 cm of each shoot once the first pods set. The tender tip is what blackfly want, and removing it is enough on its own most years. For a bad infestation, a spray of soapy water (a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in a litre of water) on a calm dry day knocks them back. Ladybirds and hoverflies eat them in volume.

When can I pick broad beans?

Late May to mid-July for autumn-sown crops; late June to August for spring-sown. Pick when pods are firm and full, but the beans inside are still bright green and no larger than your thumbnail. Older beans turn floury. The first pods at the base of the plant ripen first; work upwards over a couple of weeks of picking.

Can I eat the whole pod?

Very young broad bean pods, picked at 8–10 cm long before the beans inside are visible, can be cooked whole like french beans. After that the pod gets stringy and you want the beans alone. Pick the youngest pods straight from the plant and steam for 4–5 minutes.

What can I do with the spent plants?

Cut the plants at the base, leaving the roots in the ground. Broad bean roots fix nitrogen — they release it slowly as they decompose, feeding whatever follows. Top growth goes on the compost heap or as a green mulch around brassicas.

Broad bean / fava bean

Vicia faba

vegetable☀️ full-sun🪴 clay loam📏 medium🌡️ RHS H5–H6

📋Quick Facts

Height

0.9-1.2m

Spread

0.3-0.3m

Water

💧💧💧 Frequent watering

Hardiness

Zone 3

About

Sow broad bean seed in November for an early crop the following May, or in February to March for a summer crop. Autumn-sown beans need a hardy cultivar like Aquadulce Claudia; spring-sown can be anything. Broad beans are very hardy (RHS H4–H5) and shrug off a UK winter as small plants. They want a sunny spot with fertile soil; plant in double rows 20 cm between plants. Pinch the growing tip once the first beans set — that's the part blackfly want, and removing it deters the worst of an infestation. Harvest from late May (autumn-sown) or late June (spring-sown), picking when the pods feel full but the beans inside are still bright green.

Top tip

Sow early, pinch out tips to deter aphids, and pick pods while beans are still tender.

Also known as: Fava, Tuinboon, Broad bean / fava bean, Vicia faba, Bób, Fève, Ackerbohne, Haba

How to grow broad bean / fava bean

1
Sow direct
November for autumn crop (Aquadulce Claudia or The Sutton only); February to mid-March for spring crop. 5 cm deep, 20 cm apart in double rows 25 cm apart.
2
Protect young seedlings (autumn sowings only)
Once 5 cm tall they overwinter outdoors fine in most of the UK. In exposed gardens or very cold winters, cover with a cloche or fleece. They want air and don't need warmth.
3
Pinch out the blackfly target
Once the first beans set in May or June, pinch out the top 7 cm of each growing shoot. The tender tip is what blackfly want. Removing it deters infestation and pushes the plant's energy into beans.
4
Support
In a windy site, run two parallel strings 30 cm and 60 cm above the row, tied to canes at each end. The plants lean on the string and don't break.
5
Water if dry
Water deeply at flowering. Drought at flowering reduces the pod count.
6
Harvest
Pick when pods are firm but the beans inside are still bright green and smaller than your thumbnail. Older beans get tough and floury. The pods snap rather than tear.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

2/5 — Somewhat vulnerable

Blackfly is almost inevitable; chocolate spot fungus in damp conditions.

Companion Planting

Grows well with

Cabbage Sweetcorn

Keep apart from

Garlic Leek Onion

Visual Characteristics

Fruits

Yes

Harvest: Spring to summer

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Salads, stews, falafel, risotto, pasta, dips, sautéed with garlic

The broad bean / fava bean year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🌰Seed

Easy

This plant produces viable seeds for propagation

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H5–H6

USDA 6 equivalent