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How to Grow Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered

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Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered

Vicia faba

vegetable

Crimson Flowered is a distinctive variety of fava bean featuring striking deep red flowers and productive growth habit. These cold-hardy legumes produce large, flat pods containing nutrient-dense beans ideal for fresh consumption or drying. The plant adds nitrogen to soil while providing an attractive ornamental element to the garden.

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Example Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Broad Bean (Fava Bean) Crimson Flowered dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours daily
💧
Water: Moderate, consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Reduce watering once flowering begins. Avoid waterlogging.
📏
Spacing: 6 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-90 days from planting to harvest
🌱
Planting depth: 1.5

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with good organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.5
Amendments:
Compost Well-rotted manure Calcium (lime if pH is below 6.0)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; best grown as a cool-season crop in spring or fall

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

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Growth Stages

1

Germination & Seedling

2-3 weeks

Seeds sprout within 7-10 days; cotyledons emerge followed by true leaves. Seedlings develop strong taproots.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin to final spacing once seedlings have 2-3 leaves. Protect from slugs and snails.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops bushy foliage with compound leaves and strong stems. Height reaches 12-24 inches depending on variety and growing conditions.

Support taller varieties with stakes or cages. Monitor for pests. Maintain consistent watering and ensure adequate nitrogen fixation by avoiding over-fertilizing.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Distinctive deep crimson or dark red flowers appear in clusters. Flowers are fragrant and highly attractive to pollinators.

Reduce watering slightly to encourage flowering and pod set. Ensure adequate bee activity for pollination. Watch for chocolate spot disease in humid conditions.

4

Pod Development & Maturation

3-4 weeks

Long, thick pods develop following pollination, swelling with large beans inside. Pods reach 6-8 inches in length and develop slight curves.

Continue moderate watering. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes leafy growth over pods. Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

5

Harvest Ready

Ongoing, typically 2-3 week harvest window

Pods firm and bulging with mature beans; pods may show light discoloration. Beans inside are full-sized and ready for harvest.

Harvest pods when young and tender for best flavor, or allow full maturation for drying. Handle carefully to avoid breaking pods.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Corn Cucumber Squash Celery Artichoke Carrot Potato

Avoid planting near:

Onion Garlic Fennel Tomato Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli)

Common Pests

  • Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, remove affected leaves, apply sulfur or copper fungicide in humid conditions

  • Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs

  • Use fleece row covers on young plants, sow seeds directly when soil is warm, avoid fresh manure

  • and

    Hand-pick, use copper barriers, apply diatomaceous earth, encourage ground beetles

  • Remove infested shoots, use neem oil or insecticidal soap, plant repellent herbs like cilantro nearby

Uses

🍳

Fresh & Dried Beans

Culinary

Young fava beans are steamed or sautéed as a vegetable; mature dried beans are used in soups, stews, hummus, and Mediterranean cuisine. The beans have a nutty, earthy flavor and creamy texture when cooked. [source]

🍳

Young Pod Consumption

Culinary

Very young, tender pods can be eaten whole when harvested early, sliced and cooked like green beans. This maximizes yield and reduces shelling time. [source]

💊

Traditional Health Remedy

Medicinal

Fava beans contain L-DOPA, a compound historically used to support health. Rich in folate, iron, and protein, making them nutritionally valuable for plant-based diets. [source]

🏠

Nitrogen Fixation & Soil Amendment

Household

As a legume, fava beans fix atmospheric nitrogen through rhizobia bacteria, enriching soil naturally. Plants can be tilled back into soil or composted to improve fertility for next season's crops. [source]

🎨

Ornamental Garden Value

Craft

The striking crimson flowers make this variety attractive for decorative vegetable gardens and cut flower arrangements. The blooms are fragrant and attract beneficial pollinators. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

For fresh consumption, harvest pods when 3-4 inches long and beans are still tender inside (approximately 60 days after planting). Pinch or cut pods from the stem rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant. For dried beans, allow pods to mature fully on the plant until they become dry and brown, then harvest and shell. Check plants every 2-3 days during peak harvest season for tender pods.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 The 'Crimson Flowered' variety is highly prized by gardeners for its deep red flowers, which are more ornamental than standard white-flowering fava bean varieties.
  • 🌱 Fava beans have been cultivated for over 6,000 years and were a staple protein source in ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations.
  • 🌱 In some individuals with a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency, eating fava beans can trigger a serious reaction called 'favism,' though this is rare and typically well-documented in families.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch Pollination True Leaves
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