| Botanical name | Vicia faba |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Frost Sensitive Frost Sensitive – Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Beans (broad) |
| Origin | |
| Foliage | Description: This cool-season vegetable is a tall, leafy crop that needs plenty of space, although it is easy to grow. |
| Planting instructions | During autumn, sow seed directly in double rows 300mm apart. Place seeds 50mm deep and 150–200mm apart in the row. Keep damp but not soggy. Seedlings emerge 10–14 days after sowing. |
| Maintenance | Once they start growing, water regularly, especially during flowering and fruit-setting (after flowering). Plants may need support in windy positions. Pinch out the growing point to eliminate aphids once enough pods have set. Avoid fertilizers that are high in nitrogen as this will encourage too much leaf growth at the expense of the flowers and pods. |
| Fruit |
|
| Soil conditions | Prepare the soil well before sowing by incorporating lots of compost, well-rotted manure and general fertilizer. |
| Uses | Pods with half-ripe seeds are shelled and the seeds cooked. Broad beans are very nutritious. |
| Interesting info | Seedlings emerge 10–14 days after sowing. Once they start growing, water regularly, especially during flowering and fruit-setting (after flowering). |
| Possible problems | Mosaic virus appears as mottled patterns on foliage, causing plants to become stunted. As there are no chemicals to control viral diseases; the only way to prevent them from spreading is to destroy plants as soon as the virus is noticed. |
| Common pests and diseases | Aphids. Leaf spot, rust, mosaic virus are common in this plant. |
| Harvest | Pick pods when young and use like green beans, or leave pods to fill with half-ripe seeds before picking. Pods with half-ripe seeds are shelled and the seeds cooked. A 5m-long row per sowing should yield enough for a family of four. |
Vicia faba (Beans (broad))
- Botanical name: Vicia faba
- Common name(s): Beans (broad)
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
This cool-season vegetable is a tall, leafy crop that needs plenty of space, although it is easy to grow. It is also a useful legume for soil improvement.
Family: Papilionaceae
Synonym: Faba vulgaris
Botanical Pronunciation: VISS-ee-uh FAY-buh
Vicia faba requirements and features
info on these icons
Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
Prohibited Use Notice: No Data Scraping Allowed Except for Search Engine Indexing:
The content provided on PlantInfo.co.za is intended for personal, non-commercial use only. Unauthorized extraction, reproduction, or use of the data, including scraping, for any purpose other than search engine indexing is strictly prohibited. Violations of these terms may result in legal action. By accessing and using this website, you agree to comply with these conditions and acknowledge the legal restrictions on the use of our content.
Description: This cool-season vegetable is a tall, leafy crop that needs plenty of space, although it is easy to grow. 
Related plants
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
