Old Favorite Review by San Diego Gardener
Overall Rating
We have planted Broad Windsor Fava Beans in our winter garden for the past 3 or 4 years and have always been pleased with the results. They grow quickly to 5' or so and need staking or a cage of some sort (we just use our tomato cages from the summer). They have always produced extremely well and seem to be pretty forgiving about when you start them. We have started seeds in coastal San Diego anywhere between September and February and had good returns. We had one year with lower yields but we believe this was likely due to an infestation of nematodes in the soil that heavily damaged their roots. We almost always have 100% germination. And last year the seeds survived and produced well after being dug up and thrown around by a skunk just as they had begun to germinate.
We like to pick the beans when the pods have filled out but before they have reached full size. Harvesting before the beans are fully mature allows you to avoid the tedious job of having to slip the cooked beans from their skins. The skins at this point are tender enough to eat and compliment the sweetness of the inner bean with a a slight touch of bitterness. Every year we let a few reach full maturity because the texture is drier and the flavor is more intense. Dried favas are also wonderful, and very different from fresh. If you grow enough, it is worth drying some for use in soups and stews throughout the year..
(Posted on 9/19/11)
