As a legume grown long enough that it’s often described as ancient, its extensive track record should give you confidence that it can be cultivated with ease.

In fact, when it comes to the history of agriculture, favas should be considered an elder, deserving of awe and respect – they have been used as a crop nearly as long as humans have been practicing agriculture.

Kind of mind-boggling, isn’t it?

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Favas have certainly passed the test of time, but this is only one of the reasons why more gardeners should give them a try.

Beyond their ancient and toothsome allure, in my own garden I love the way they expand my roster of spring crop options, as well as their ability to serve as powerful companion plants.

Whether you grow them for their tasty beans, their ability to fix nitrogen, or out of sheer awe, favas will earn their keep in your garden.

We’re going to discuss how to grow these beans and take a look at some cultivars of interest, as well as techniques and ideas for getting them out of the garden and into our bellies.

And on that thought, I bet you’re ready to get started! The sooner we get growing, the sooner we get to chow down. Here’s a quick look at what we’ll cover:

What Are Favas?

Favas are cool-season legumes known for their large, meaty beans.

Plants have an upright, non-vining growth habit and reach two to six feet tall, depending on the cultivar, with a spread of about 12 inches.

Their grayish-green leaves are large and compound

plants gardening watering seeds beans peas Kristina HicksHamblin