Broad bean

Profile

Family

Fabaceae

Habit

annual

Height

1.5 m

Spread

0.4 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

1 year

First yield

after 1 year

Hardiness

zone 3–9

Shade tolerance

light shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very moist

pH

6.5 – 8.5

Synonyms

Dicke Bohnen

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Seeds can be consumed raw or cooked, even when not fully ripe. Fully ripe seeds require soaking overnight before cooking to soften. The leaves are cooked and utilized similarly to spinach.

Other uses: A quality green manure crop can be planted in autumn or spring, growing fast, yielding a good amount, and fixing nitrogen. Its vertical growth limits its weed-killing effectiveness. The stems can provide fiber, while the ash-rich stems are useful for soap production.

Growing

Thrives in sunny locations in most well-drained soils, preferring a fairly heavy loam. It grows well in heavy clay soils and dislikes dry conditions. Cultivated for edible seeds or as a cover crop, it has two main types: 'Daffa' beans for autumn sowing and 'Tic' beans for spring sowing. Autumn-sown varieties are more prone to 'chocolate spot' fungus but less likely to be damaged by aphids. This species forms nodules on roots with soil bacteria, fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Some nitrogen benefits the plant, while the rest can support nearby plants. To release nitrogen, it's recommended to leave the roots in the soil when clearing plant debris at the end of the season.

Propagation

Before planting, immerse the seeds in lukewarm water for a day, then plant them directly in the chosen spot during spring or autumn.

Notable

Special features: thrives in marshland conditions with heavy clay soil and abundant water; able to sprout at soil temperatures as low as 2-3°C; develops a taproot that can reach up to 1m deep; consumption by individuals with G6PD deficiency can result in heightened red blood cell breakdown known as favism; categorized into field bean with small seeds and broad bean with large seeds.

Origin & habitat

Long grown for its seeds, the original location where it naturally grows remains uncertain.

Not found in its natural habitat, this primate species is among the least researched.

Related plants