How to grow Broad Beans in Australia
Broad beans (Vicia faba), also called fava beans, are the classic cool-season bean: sown in autumn, grown through winter and picked in spring. They are frost hardy, add nitrogen to the soil, and suit every southern garden. Give them support, pinch out the tips once pods form, and pick the beans young.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Broad Beans in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to August | Slightly longer window than SEQ. Hinterland frosts help pod set. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to August | Extended cool season. Sow Mar to Aug. Sydney's cool winters suit broad beans well. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to August | Melbourne's signature winter crop. Sow Mar to Aug. Frost helps pod set. |
| Adelaide & SA | April to August | Excellent in Adelaide. Autumn-winter sow. Mediterranean conditions suit well. |
| Perth & WA | April to August | Perth's Mediterranean winter is ideal. Sow Apr to Aug. |
| Tasmania | March to May, August and September | Sow Mar to May to overwinter or Aug to Sep for a spring crop. A Tasmanian signature crop: frost improves pod set. |
| Canberra & ACT | March to August | Canberra's cold winters are perfect for broad beans. Signature crop. |
| North Queensland | May to July | Short cool window. Dry season only. Not a natural fit for tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Pod set needs cool conditions. |
Where to plant
Sow broad beans in full sun in firm, well-drained soil. They need no rich feeding, as they make their own nitrogen; soil enriched for a previous crop is ideal. Choose a spot sheltered from strong wind, as the tall stems are easily blown over when laden with pods.
They are a cool-season crop. Cold winters suit them, and pod set needs cool conditions.
- Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney: sow from March or April to August. Broad beans are a signature winter crop in the south.
- Hobart: sow from March to May to overwinter, or in August and September for a spring crop.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from March to July.
- North Queensland: only a short window in the cooler dry season, May to July. Darwin: not viable, as pods will not set without cool weather.
Choosing a variety
- Aquadulce Claudia is a tall, hardy variety often sown in autumn.
- Coles Dwarf is shorter and bushier, better for windy spots and small gardens.
- Crimson Flowered has pretty red flowers and smaller beans.
How to plant
- Sow the large seeds directly into moist soil, scar facing down, about 5 cm deep and 20 cm apart, in double rows about 30 cm apart.
- Water once after sowing, then only if the soil dries out until shoots appear.
- Put in supports while plants are small: stakes along each row with string or twine run between them at intervals as the plants grow.
- Sow a second batch a few weeks later to spread the harvest.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly once the plants are growing, and keep the soil evenly moist from flowering while the pods fill. Winter rain is often enough until spring, when the weather warms and dries.
Do not feed with nitrogen. Broad beans fix their own, and extra nitrogen gives tall, leafy plants with fewer pods.
Pruning and care through the year
- As plants grow, tie them to the supports. A grid of string with a square about 20 cm across for each plant keeps them upright under the weight of pods.
- Pinch out the growing tips once the lowest pods start to form. This keeps plants compact, directs energy into the pods and removes the soft tips aphids like most. The tips are good to eat.
- When the crop finishes, cut the plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil.
Harvesting
Pick pods when the beans inside are well formed but still small and tender, usually about 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. Young pods about finger size can be cooked whole. Left too long, the beans develop a thick, fibrous skin; older beans can be double podded, or left to dry on the plant for storing.
Pick regularly to keep the plants producing. Fresh pods keep a few days in the fridge, and blanched beans freeze well.
Growing in pots
Dwarf varieties grow in a pot or trough at least 30 cm wide and deep. Give them a few short stakes and keep the mix moist once they flower.
Using it
- Eat young beans fresh, or blanch older beans and slip off the tough grey skin (double podding).
- The young leafy tips and the flowers are edible too.
- Some people have an inherited condition, G6PD deficiency, in which eating broad beans can cause a serious breakdown of red blood cells, called favism. Cooking does not remove the compounds responsible. Anyone with G6PD deficiency should avoid broad beans.
Saving seed
Leave some pods on the healthiest plants until they turn black and dry, then shell the beans and dry them further before storing. Broad beans can cross with other varieties grown nearby, so grow one variety if you want true seed.
Companion planting
Broad beans are a good crop to grow ahead of hungry summer vegetables, as their roots leave nitrogen in the soil. Low winter greens can share the bed.
Good companions
- Lettuce A low winter crop that grows in the spaces between rows.
- Celery Shares the bed without competing for the same space.
- Potato Grown together in the cool season, beans add nitrogen and potatoes use the space low down.
- Corn A good summer crop to follow broad beans into the same bed, using the nitrogen they leave behind.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to broad beans.
Pests and diseases
Aphids in spring and chocolate spot in damp weather are the main problems.
Pests to watch for
- Black bean aphid Dense colonies of black insects on the soft growing tips as the weather warms. Pinch out and bin the tips.
Diseases to watch for
- Chocolate spot Brown spots on leaves and brown streaks on stems and pods, worst in damp, humid weather and crowded plantings. Space plants and avoid wetting the leaves.
- Rust Small, raised, rusty orange spots on leaves late in the season.
Common questions
When should I plant broad beans?
In autumn to late winter in most of Australia, usually March to August. In Hobart you can also sow in August and September for a spring crop. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
Should I pinch out the tops of broad beans?
Yes, once the lowest pods start to form. It keeps the plants compact, puts energy into the pods and removes the soft tips where aphids gather. Cook the tips like spinach.
Why are my broad bean flowers not making pods?
Usually warm weather or too little pollination. Broad beans set pods best in cool conditions with bees about. Late sowings that flower in warm spring weather often set poorly.
How do I support broad beans?
Put stakes along the rows while the plants are small and run string between them as they grow, ideally in a grid with about 20 cm squares so each plant is held upright.
When are broad beans ready to pick?
When the pods are plump but the beans inside are still small and tender, usually 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. Older beans get a tough skin and are best double podded.
Are broad beans safe for everyone?
Not for people with G6PD deficiency, an inherited condition. For them, eating broad beans can trigger favism, a serious breakdown of red blood cells, and cooking does not prevent it.
What are the brown spots on my broad bean leaves?
Usually chocolate spot, a fungal disease that spreads in damp, humid weather and crowded plantings. Space plants well, water the soil rather than the leaves, and remove badly affected leaves.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Viewer tip, broad bean supports; ABC Organic Gardener: Sowing winter beans; RHS: How to grow broad beans; NSW DPI: Managing diseases of faba bean; Singapore Food Agency: Fava beans and G6PD deficiency.