Fava Beans Planting Guide

May

fava beans this May — what to know

Some notes on fava beans care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 75–100

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water fava beans
About an inch of water a week keeps fava beans happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put fava beans
South-facing beds are ideal for fava beans. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant fava beans. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact fava beans timing →

Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Vicia faba · Vegetable · Fabaceae family · 75–100 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Fava Beans Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Fava Beans?

Zone Compatibility for Fava Beans Zones 2a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 2a	Apr 18	May 23	May 30	Aug 15 – Sep 26
Zone 2b	Apr 10	May 15	May 22	Aug 7 – Sep 18
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jul 31 – Sep 11
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jul 26 – Sep 6
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jul 22 – Sep 2
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jul 17 – Aug 28
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jul 11 – Aug 22
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Jul 4 – Aug 15
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jun 26 – Aug 7
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	Jun 19 – Jul 31
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	Jun 10 – Jul 22
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	Jun 3 – Jul 15
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	May 24 – Jul 5
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	May 13 – Jun 24
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Apr 28 – Jun 9
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Apr 12 – May 24
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 19 – Apr 30
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 19 – Apr 30

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Fava Beans is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Fava Beans

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

75–100 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Fabaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Fabaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Fava Beans

Fava Beans matures in just 75–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8.6 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Fava Beans

✅ Good Companions

Corn Lettuce Celery Potatoes

❌ Keep Away From

Onion Garlic

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Fava Beans

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Saving Fava Beans Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

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Fava Beans by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Fava Beans?

Fava Beans (Vicia faba) takes 75 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Fava Beans grow in?

Fava Beans can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Fava Beans need?

Growing Fava Beans requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.