GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Broad Bean

Vicia faba · Annual

Hardiness
—
Position
Full sun
Height × Spread
50–180 cm × 10–50 cm
Soil
fertile, moist but well drained soil; tolerates clay, chalk, loam, sand; pH acid, alkaline, neutral
Flowering
May
Toxicity
Broad (fava) beans can trigger haemolysis (a haemolytic crisis) in people with G6PD deficiency. This is a susceptibility-specific risk; broad beans are otherwise a food crop.

The Gardening Year

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Sow
🌸 In flower

Watch out for

Chocolate spot: Remove infected plant debris after harvest to reduce overwintering spores.

Broad bean rust: Maximise air flow with wider spacing and destroy infected material to prevent spread.

Black bean aphid: Pick off the tips of shoots to reduce infestation and improve yield.

Pea and bean weevil: Monitor plants during flowering and remove affected flowers if infestation is heavy.

Broad bean seed beetle: Inspect saved seeds for damage; most affected seeds will still germinate successfully.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/vicia-faba © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia