Broad bean (Fava)

Vicia faba

Cool-season legume sown autumn through early spring. Nitrogen-fixing roots make it a useful cover crop and follow-on partner.

Hardiness ratings

Broad bean (Fava) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −40 °C to −1.1 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −34 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating

As a tender annual, Broad bean (Fava) doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.

Growing notes

  • Autumn sowing in mild climates; spring sowing in cold-winter regions
  • Cut tops at flowering and dig in for green manure if growing as cover crop

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Broad bean (Fava) against your zones

Reference

Broad bean (Fava) on Wikipedia