Last season was my third year growing fava beans and I think I got it down now. I direct sow these low-maintenance, cold-weather legumes in late-summer (around September/October) so they can get well-established before our first frost. They are very cold-hardy and can handle temps down to 20F degrees. In our mild, southern winters, fava beans easily over-winter and are incredibly productive.

Throughout Winter, I harvest their young greens for fresh eating. The plants begin flowering in March and bean pods follow within weeks. At the first signs of Summer’s arrival, I cut down all the stalks to harvest the bean pods for food preservation and seed saving. The stalk debris makes an abundant, nitrogen-rich green mulch to benefit this season’s plants.

I’ll store these broad bean seeds in the fridge this season in preparation for jumping off what I expect to be a bountiful Year 4🤲🏾.