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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Vicia faba major is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Immature seed - raw or cooked. Broad bean seeds are very nutritious and are frequently used as items of food. The seeds can be eaten raw when they are small and tender, as they grow older they can be cooked as a vegetable[2
, 7
, 16
, 132
, 183
]. They have a very pleasant floury taste[K
].
There are some potential problems to the use of these seeds if they are consumed in large quantities[7
] - see the notes above on toxicity.
Mature seeds can be eaten cooked as a vegetable or added to soups etc[2
, 7
, 16
, 183
]. They are best soaked for 12 - 24 hours prior to cooking in order to soften them and reduce the cooking time[K
]. They will also become more nutritious this way[K
]. The flavour is mild and pleasant with a floury texture[K
]. They can also be dried and ground into a flour for use in making bread etc with cereal flours[183
]. The seed can also be fermented to make tempeh'[183
]. Made into a paste, they can be used as a sandwich filling[299
]. The seed can be sprouted before being cooked[183
]. Popped seeds can be salted and eaten as a snack or roasted like peanuts[183
].
Young pods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[183
]. They quickly become fibrous as they grow larger[183
], and also develop a hairy coating inside the pods that can become unpleasant as the pods get larger[K
].
Young leaves - cooked. They are very nutritious and can be used like spinach[105
, 183
].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diuretic
The seedpods are diuretic and lithontripic[7].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fibre Soap making
Agroforestry Uses:
The stems and leaves are sometimes used as a green manure[299
].
Broad beans grow well with carrots, cauliflowers, beet, cucumber, cabbages, leeks, celeriac, corn and potatoes, but is inhibited by onions, garlic and shallots[18
, 20
].
Other Uses:
A fibre is obtained from the stems.
The burnt stems are rich in potassium and can be used in making soap.
The dried stems can be burnt as a fuel[299
].
Special Uses
Dynamic accumulator Nitrogen Fixer
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Broad beans originated in warm temperate areas and can be cultivated from the cold temperate zone to the subtropics, and also at higher elevations from 1,300 - 3,800 metres in the tropics. It may flower well in the lowland tropics, but usually does not produce pods[299
]. The ideal temperature range in the growing season is between 18 - 27°c, at higher temperatures the flowers are often aborted[200
]. The plant requires an annual rainfall of 700 - 1,000mm, of which more than 60% should occur during the growing period[299
].
Prefers a fairly heavy loam but succeeds in a sunny position in most soils that are well-drained[1
, 200
]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes dry conditions according to some reports[87
, 200
], whilst another says that it is drought tolerant once established[132
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7[200
].
There are two main forms of this species - small seeded forms that are more commonly grown for feeding livestock and as a green manure, and larger seeded forms that are usually grown for human food. Of the larger seeded forms there are two main types:-
'Longpod' beans are the more hardy and can be sown in the autumn in cool temperate areas.
'Windsor' beans, which are considered to be finer flavoured, are less tolerant of the cold and so are best sown in spring[132
].
Autumn sown varieties are more susceptible to 'chocolate spot' fungus, this problem can be alleviated by the addition of potash to the soil[87
].
Black fly can be a major problem. Autumn sown crops are less likely to be affected. Pinching out the soft tips of the plants, one they are tall enough and are beginning to flower, can reduce the problem since the blackfly always start on the soft shoots and then spread to the older stems.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200
]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in succession from late winter until early summer. Germination should take place in about 7 - 10 days. The earlier sowings should be of suitably hardy varieties such as the 'Longpods' whilst later sowings can be of the tastier varieties such as the 'Windsors'. By making fresh sowings every 3 weeks you will have a continuous supply of fresh young seeds from early summer until early autumn. If you want to grow the beans to maturity then the seed needs to be sown by the middle of spring. You may need to protect the seed from the ravages of mice. Another sowing can be made in middle to late autumn. This has to be timed according to the area where the plants are being grown. The idea is that the plants will make some growth in the autumn and be perhaps 15 - 20cm tall by the time the colder part of winter sets in. As long as the winter is not too severe, the plants should stand well and will grow away rapidly in the spring to produce an earlier crop. The plants will also be less likely to be attacked by blackfly. Make sure you choose a suitably hardy variety for this sowing.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Broad bean, Fava bean, or faba bean. Varieties with smaller, harder seeds that are fed to horses or other animals are called field bean, tic bean or tick bean. Horse bean.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Artemisia ludoviciana | White Sage, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Western Mugwort | Perennial | 1.0 |
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| M | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Artemisia ludoviciana gnaphalodes | White Sage | Perennial | 1.0 |
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| Avena ludoviciana | Oats | Annual | 0.0 |
-
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| Lactuca ludoviciana | Western Wild Lettuce, Biannual lettuce | Biennial | 1.2 |
0-0
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Orobanche ludoviciana | Broomrape, Louisiana broomrape | Perennial | 1.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | FSN | M | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vicia americana | American Vetch, Mat vetch | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-7
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Vicia amoena | | Perennial | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia amurensis | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia articulata | One-Flower Vetch | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia benghalensis | Purple Vetch | Annual/Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| F | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia caroliniana | Carolina vetch, Carolina wood vetch | Perennial | 0.6 |
3-9
| M | LMH | FSN | M | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch, Bird vetch, Cow vetch | Perennial Climber | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Vicia ervilia | Bitter Vetch | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia faba equina | Horsebean | Annual | 1.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia faba minuta | Tick Bean | Annual | 1.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia gigantea | Giant Vetch | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Vicia grandiflora kitaibeliana | large yellow vetch | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Vicia heptajuga | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia hirsuta | Hairy Tare, Tiny vetch | Annual | 0.5 |
4-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia hirticalycina | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia japonica | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia monantha | Hard Vetch, Barn vetch | Annual | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia narbonensis | French Vetch, Purple broad vetch | Annual | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Vicia nipponica | | Perennial | 0.8 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia noeana | | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia pisiformis | Pea Vetch, Pale-flower vetch | Perennial | 1.8 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia pseudo-orobus | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia sativa | Winter Tares, Garden vetch, Subterranean vetch | Annual Climber | 1.2 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia sativa leucosperma | Winter Tares | Annual Climber | 1.2 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
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Author
Harz.
Botanical References
17100
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