Fava bean
Vicia faba
Cool‑season · frost‑tolerant · direct sow
80–110 days from seed to harvest
Fava bean is a cool-season podded vegetable in the legume family that tolerates light frost. The usual start is direct sowing, and harvest is about 80–110 days from sowing (about 11 to 16 weeks).
Primary method: direct sow
Fava bean is usually sown outdoors. Calendar dates for your garden are on the when-to-plant page after you choose a place.
- Sow outside. Sow seed outdoors. Germination typically takes 7–14 days.
- Grow to harvest. The harvest clock starts when you sow seed. 80–110 days from sowing (about 11 to 16 weeks).
Time to harvest
Ready to harvest about 11 to 16 weeks after sowing.
- Sow
- Sprouting
- Growing
- Harvest, earliest to latest
Dates for your area: Local dates: not yet available This guide has no calendar dates; they depend on your place.
Other start methods
Starting indoors is not the usual method for this plant.
Care basics
Sun: full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sun.
This plant tolerates light frost.
Types and varieties
Other names: Broad bean, Faba bean, Horse bean, Windsor bean. Variety groups are not listed here.
Growing facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Plant name | Fava bean |
| Scientific name | Vicia faba |
| Family | Fabaceae (legume family) |
| Time to harvest | 80–110 days from sowing (about 11 to 16 weeks) |
| Days to germinate | 7–14 days |
| Ideal growing temperature | 15 – 21 °C |
| Minimum tolerable temperature | 4 °C |
| Maximum tolerable temperature | 24 °C |
| Start indoors | Not the usual method |
| Direct sow | Yes, usual method |
| Season type | Cool-season, tolerates light frost |
| Typical start method | Direct sow |
| Light | full sun, 6+ hours direct sun |
Glossary
- Ideal temperature
- The preferred daytime range for good growth.
- Tolerable temperature
- A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
- Harden off
- Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
- Transplant
- Moving seedlings into the garden.
- Days to harvest
- The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).