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When to Plant Fava Beans in Harrison County, IN

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.

Harrison County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 206 days.

At an elevation of 528 feet, Harrison County receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Harrison County, IN (Zone 6b) Long season
206 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
206 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Harrison County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Jul 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 20

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 305 gal / 100 sq ft
Fava Beans needs ~1,400 GDD — county provides 3,296 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Harrison County, IN

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 4 Mar 4 โ€“ Mar 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 15
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Sep 5
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 โ€“ Aug 5

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

75โ€“100 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

206 days

Growing Tips for Harrison County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Harrison County, IN?

Harrison County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Harrison County, IN?

Harrison County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Harrison County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Harrison County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.