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When to Plant Fava Beans in Warren 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.

Warren County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 654 feet, Warren County receives approximately 30 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Warren County, MO (Zone 6a) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Warren County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (77 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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 632 gal / 100 sq ft
Fava Beans needs ~1,466 GDD — county provides 3,299 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Warren County, MO

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 โ€“ Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 18
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Aug 30
Harvest June 27 Jun 27 โ€“ Aug 8

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 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

197 days

Growing Tips for Warren 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 Warren County, MO?

Warren County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Warren County, MO?

Warren County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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