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When to Plant Fava Beans in Wolfe 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.

Wolfe County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 186 days.

At an elevation of 1,977 feet, Wolfe County receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Wolfe County, KY (Zone 6b) Moderate season
186 days
Last Spring Frost April 18
186 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Wolfe County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 2

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Fava Beans needs ~1,531 GDD — county provides 3,255 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Wolfe County, KY

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 14 Mar 14 โ€“ Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 2
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 25
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Aug 26
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 โ€“ Aug 15

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 Transplant Outdoors
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 6b

Growing Season

186 days

Growing Tips for Wolfe 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 Wolfe County, KY?

Wolfe County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 18. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wolfe County, KY?

Wolfe County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 18 and first fall frost is October 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wolfe 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 Wolfe County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.