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When to Plant Fava Beans in Grant County, KY

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.

Grant County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 2,483 feet, Grant County receives approximately 46.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Grant County, KY (Zone 6a) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Aug 30

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
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Fava Beans needs ~1,269 GDD — county provides 2,813 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, KY

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
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 6a

Growing Season

194 days

Growing Tips for Grant 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 Grant County, KY?

Grant County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, KY?

Grant County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Grant County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.