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When to Plant Fava Beans in Oregon County, MO

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.

Oregon County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 1,372 feet, Oregon County receives approximately 30.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Oregon County, MO (Zone 6b) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Oregon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 19

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 855 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Fava Beans needs ~1,531 GDD — county provides 3,657 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Oregon County, MO

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 25 Feb 25 โ€“ Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Direct Sow March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ Apr 8
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

209 days

Growing Tips for Oregon 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 Oregon County, MO?

Oregon County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 1. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Oregon County, MO?

Oregon County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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