How to grow Broad Beans

A guide to growing Broad Beans, including sun requirements, spacing, planting, feeding, and when to harvest.

Broad Beans require a rich, well draining soil with added compost and well rotted manure. 

Broad Beans prefers a full sun position, however will tolerate part sun. Shelter your broad bean plants from strong winds.  

Yes, Broad Bean plants will tolerate light frosts. 

Plant Broad Beans roughly 40cm apart. 

Broad Beans are a cool season crop, usually planted in autumn. If you live in a cooler climate you can also plant in spring. 

Broad Beans will not tolerate temperatures below below 4.4°C (40°F) or above 24°C (75°F). 

Sow seeds roughly 2 inches deep. 

If transplanting, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Before planting your Broad Beans, prepare the soil by working in compost or well rotted manure. Mulch the soil well to retain moisture.

Additional fertiliser is generally not required for beans. 

Harvest once the Broad Bean pods have swelled, but before the beans become too tough. 

Pests that can affect Broad Beans include: Aphids, Capsid Bug, Cutworm, Slug, Snail, Leafminer, Mexican Bean Beetle, Thrips, Root Knot Nematodes, Spider Mites. 

Diseases that can affect Broad Beans include: Mosaic Virus, Powdery Mildew, Fusarium Root Rot, Rust, Pea Enation Virus, White Mold, Leaf Spot, Downy Mildew, Leaf Blight. 

Both the beans and the plant shoots are edible.  

Broad Bean plants may need protection from strong winds.