skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Fava beans...I've got 'em. Now what?

14 years ago

Well, these grew pretty good. Some plants are 3+ feet tall! The flowers are just now turning into bean pods.

I see the pods start off pointing up and then drop more horizontal as they lengthen. Are newer pods better to pick than older pods or do I want to let the pods get full size before picking?

Also, any tips on cooking these beans? I'm not even sure I like fava beans but I am going to have a lot of pods there is no doubt about that! Thanks. And I planted them as a cover crop primarily in case you're wondering.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

dgbeig
14 years ago
Hi Deep Roots
I am in the Bay Area and have been growing favas for the past 6 years. They do remarkable all winter, don't they?
My stalks are about 6 feet, so yours will keep going!

Although some people say they pick early and use the beans right out of the pod, mine always slip out of the second skin after cooking, whether or not they are big or small, young or old. Since they are so much work for so little in return, I wait until they are very big, bulging out of the pods, and then pick them.
You need to pod them and then blanch them to get them out of the second skin. Once you do, they don't need much.

I salt them and my three year old eats 'em right up.
You can throw them in salad or pasta.
I mashed them roughly and had them with some feta smeared on a baguette. Very tasty.

I did have the leaves of the fava in a salad at a restaurant the other night, and they were good. I will have to look for some healthy clean leaves and try that myself.

Have fun!
instar8
14 years ago
I've heard they go well with census-takers' kidneys and a nice Chianti....sorry, couldn't resist.

They're always doing something with favas on Food network,see if this link works...

Here is a link that might be useful: fava bean recipes
Related Discussions
Sunflowers- Now ya see 'em, now ya don't?
Q
Comments (25)
I'm having the same trouble trying to plant Sunflowers and while I haven't seen them, I'm almost positive it is the squirrels. We don't have deer or rabbit. It might have been a groundhog, but he would have eaten a lot of things and made a huge mess. I've sown the seeds three times already. After the first set of seedlings disappeared [all but two] I sowed more seed and put hardware cloth down over the seed area and some of those edges were sharp. They still managed to get in between them a little but it looked like they gave up. But, to get back at me, they pulled out the two remaining sunflower seedlings that were about 6 inches tall already. After the second set of seeds germinated, I didn't want them to grow up through the wire, so I took it off and weeded around them. Back they came and did the same thing. So I've started the third bath which are already up. I've kept the wire covering on and bent it up a little to allow the sunflower seedlings a little room to grow. This time I am not going to weed around them because I think disturbing the soil at all, is a trigger for attracting them to the area. I even left the pulled sunflower seedlings right where they left them. If this doesn't work, I'm going to try using the netting I have over the strawberries, that seems to be working fine for the strawberries. Maybe that way I can get them to a decent size before they can get at them. I hope.
...See More
Got em planted finally!
Q
Comments (1)
They will start greening up in a week or so Roger. You'll lose the outer leaves, but new ones will start growing from the center of the fans. The outer ones will turn yellow, then brown and dry up. Don't worry about it, that's normal when you transplant bareroot dl's. Mine usually really take off in the second week after being planted. I know what you mean about taking time to plant them all. I've single handedly planted 215 new ones this spring. :) Be sure and show us some photos when your babies start blooming!! Jan
...See More
'N' is also for NOIDS...I know you've got 'em!
Q
Comments (42)
Very pretty! Absolutely love that sixth one. Hope someone will be able to help you identify them. For the last couple of years I have been keeping records of my NOIDs habits. This helped with identifying a couple. I also took some of the blooms to my local daylily supplier and they were able to tell me what a couple were. If they weren't absolutely sure, they didn't want to mislead me, and I appreciated that, so I still have NOIDs. Rather have NOIDs than mislabeled. This picture is why. I know I bought both of these daylilies SPANISH SNOWBIRD and SPACECOAST SNOW ANGEL at different times, but they are so close in bloom size, height, and color that I would not be able to tell the difference if I weren't so sure of what they are. Vickie
...See More
We got 'em!
Q
Comments (3)
If you want to keep them out of the trees when they do get loose you will need to cut off the edge of the wing feathers. Someone at the poultry swap should be able to tell you how much if you elect to cut the feathers. If you don't you may find your beauties up in trees roosting. My neighbor when I was young had guineas and they roosted in our trees not the house he had built for them. They make excellant watch dogs(birds).
...See More
glib
14 years ago
what is surprising about fava greens is how long they stay good. Basically, you have 2 or 3 months of time to eat the same leaf, and it will taste the same through that period.
Chard comes close when it comes to a long lasting green, but fava has the cold weather production on its side. I never ate fava greens when the pods were full-full though.
pippimac
14 years ago
I love fava beans. I definitely can't be bothered double-peeling them and I find it is unnecessary if you eat them when the beans are small (about half an inch). They are madly productive, and if some pods get out of hand and the beans get tough and floury, they dry really well for use in Middle Eastern dips and falafel.
I'm glad you're using them as a cover crop; aside from their food value, they're great nitrogen fixers and provide a ton of stuff for the compost!
deep___roots
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks. I popped a couple pods last night. Them beans were tiny. I guess they need some more time.
In the meantime, I'm getting ready to sow my pole beans. Probably this weekend.
So many beans!

Related Stories

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

DECORATING GUIDES The Dumbest Decorating Decisions I’ve Ever Made

Caution: Do not try these at home

CONTAINER GARDENS Patio-Perfect Berry Bushes Like You’ve Never Seen

Small enough for pots but offering abundant fruit, these remarkable bred berries are a boon for gardeners short on space

SUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Summer Crops: How to Grow Beans

By Marianne Lipanovich

Grow your own beans for amazing variety and healthy, convenient produce all summer

DECORATING GUIDES Bean There, Done That: Coffee Table Alternatives

By Grace Chamia

Get creative with these ideas for salvaged and DIY pieces that will get people talking

FURNITURE Know When to Fold 'Em

When space is tight, look for furniture that cleverly collapses, expands or fills more than one role

FUN HOUZZ 14 Things You Need to Start Doing Now for Your Spouse’s Sake

By Mitchell Parker

You have no idea how annoying your habits at home can be. We’re here to tell you

KITCHEN DESIGN Trending Now: 25 Kitchen Photos Houzzers Can’t Get Enough Of

By Mitchell Parker

Use the kitchens that have been added to the most ideabooks in the last few months to inspire your dream project

DECORATING GUIDES How to Love Your Kitchen More, Right Now

By Laura Gaskill

Make small changes to increase the joy in your kitchen while you cook and bake, without shelling out lots of dough

SAVING WATER 6 Reasons Why You Should Save Your Rainwater Now

By Falon Mihalic

Collect and store during the rainy season so you’ll have water ready for irrigation when you need it

Sponsored

Daniel Russo Home

13 Reviews

Premier Interior Design Team Transforming Spaces in Franklin County

More Discussions

Veggie Tales - April 2024

55

Hardening seeding temperatures

17

Al's Potting Mix-pine bark fines

6

Tiny leaf bite marks

1

Veggie Tales >>> May 2024

16