Fava Beans in the Ground

Tropical Storm Sandy is heading up the east coast.  She ought to be far off the coast of North Carolina but we're expecting to get some rain as she passes.  I spent a little time in the garden today, filling two beds with fava beans, hoping to take advantage of Mother Nature's soaking.

Fava beans may be used as a food crop for bean production or as a cover crop for soil improvement.  That's a real win-win situation!  These beans prefer cool weather and tolerate frost.  In central North Carolina they will grow and bloom all winter, then set fruit in early spring, producing extra-long pods containing giant beans.  Shelled and cooked green, the beans are tasty!  Very similar to edamame (green soy beans).

I purchased my bean seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  http://rareseeds.com/  I like the fact that they offered several varieties of favas. 

I filled one bed with the standard Broad Windsor fava bean.  This old English favorite produces high yields of high-protein beans.  I'm counting on these to do well.

I planted half the second bed with Aquadulce fava, a 19th century Spanish heirloom that produces large white beans extra early in the season, but is known for lower yields.

The other half of that bed contains Extra Precoce A Grano Violetto fava bean, another extra early variety - this one from Italy - that produces deep purple, sweet tasting beans.