Vegetable · Legume
Broad Beans
Vicia fabaA tough, old-fashioned bean that shrugs off cold and even a touch of frost once established. Its thick stems and hollow pods make it one of the easiest legumes to raise from a direct sowing. The one rule: pinch the growing tips once pods set to deter blackfly.
Sow depth
2 in
Spacing
8 in · rows 18 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
10–14 days
Time to harvest
80–100 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow broad beans
- Sow from about 8 weeks before your last expected frost until around your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 6 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 3 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow deep — push seeds 2 in down into well-drained soil.Space generously; broad beans grow tall and need airflow.Stake or support rows in exposed spots once stems lengthen.
Pinch growing tips once the lowest pods are set — this discourages blackfly.Water well once flowering starts, or pods fail to fill properly.Support heavy stems with string between stakes to stop them toppling.
Pick young pods while beans inside are still small and tender.Shell promptly; flavor turns starchy the longer pods sit.Leave a few pods to dry on the plant for next season’s seed.
Companion plants
As a nitrogen-fixer, broad beans enrich the soil for hungry neighbors like brassicas and sweetcorn.
Watch out for
Black bean aphid — Swarms soft new tips in warm spring weather. Pinch out tips at first sign and encourage ladybirds.Chocolate spot — A fungal blotching in humid, crowded conditions. Space plants well and avoid overhead watering.