Zone 10 · Beans & Peas Growing Guide

When to Plant Broad Beans / Fava
in Zone 10

The cold-hardiest legume. In mild-winter zones, plant in fall for a spring harvest — the seeds overwinter in the ground. Rich, buttery flavour unlike any other bean.

Plant outdoors
Oct 15 – Jan 1
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Jan 15
Days to harvest
80–100 days
Difficulty
Easy
Late season — Zone 10
Harvest window: Dec – Mar

Planting Calendar

In Zone 10, Broad Beans / Fava should be planted outdoors Oct 15 – Jan 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 15.

Cool season only. Plant in fall for winter and early spring harvest.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade · 4–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
6–9 inches
Soil
Well-draining, fertile, slightly alkaline
Days to maturity
80–100 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.5
plant tip · Zone 10

Cool season only. Plant in fall for winter and early spring harvest.

Feeding Schedule

How often
none needed
Feed type
none
Key timing
n/a

Legume that fixes its own nitrogen. No feeding required — they actually improve soil for following crops.

Companion Planting for Broad Beans / Fava

What you plant next to broad beans / fava makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Brassicas
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Corn
Keep away from
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Leeks

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Common questions

In Zone 10, broad beans / fava is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Oct 15 – Jan 1 once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Dec – Mar. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 10 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for broad beans / fava include Brassicas, Carrots, Potatoes, Corn. Avoid planting near Onions, Garlic, Leeks, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Broad Beans / Fava typically takes 80–100 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 10. Expected harvest window: Dec – Mar.

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Broad Beans / Fava in other zones
Crop Guides