Broad Bean — Vegetables

Vicia faba

Full sun, moderate watering — hardy in most of the UK.

Photograph of Broad Bean — iNaturalist / GBIF

Sow: Nov–Mar
Harvest: Jun
In flower: May, Jun

Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Difficulty: Demanding
Hardiness: H4
Season: spring
Height: 50–100 cm
Spacing: 50 cm
Pets: Safe around pets
Bee friendly: Bee friendly

Grows well with

Summer Savory — Summer savory is recommended as a partner for beans, onions and garlic, so sow a row of it alongside your broad beans.Nasturtium — Nasturtiums work as a decoy: blackfly settle on them rather than on your broad beans. Pinch out the bean tips once the first pods have set as well.

Growing notes

Grows to 0.5-1 metres. Space about 10-50cm apart. In flower May-Jun.