Faba beans are not actually beans, but belong to the vetch family. Accordingly, their use is slightly different. The pod of faba beans cannot be eaten. Nevertheless, faba beans can also be harvested green. Find out below when and how to harvest and how to make delicious use of your broad beans.
When and how do you harvest broad beans?
Faba beans are harvested about 100 days after sowing, when the pods are bulging and the beans are rounded. The harvest time is usually between mid-May and early July. To harvest, simply snap off the pods and pump out the individual beans.
The many faces of the broad bean
The field bean has many names that reflect its use and appearance: It is also called horse bean, cattle bean or broad bean because it is often grown as feed for horses or pigs. It is called the broad bean or broad bean because of its appearance and the fava or faverb bean because of its botanical name Vicia Faba.
Harvest green broad beans
In Central Europe it is customary to harvest the broad bean when it is still green and crunchy.
When are green broad beans harvested?
The harvest time here is around 100 days after sowing, when the pods are bulging and the beans inside have clear curves. To test it, you can also crack open a field bean. The beans should be a nice light green and about the size of a thumbnail. Since faba beans are sown in February or March at the latest, the harvest time is usually between mid-May and early July.
How are broad beans harvested?
The green pods can be snapped off with your finger, but can also be cut off with secateurs or a sharp knife.
Powing broad beans
Most of the work when harvesting faba beans is not the harvest itself but the subsequent puling. It's best to invite a few friends over or watch TV, as it takes time. The beans must be peeled out of the pods individually, as the pods are not edible.
Harvest broad beans dry
In other cultures, such as Latin America, it is common to let the faba beans dry on the plant. This is also done in Central Europe, for example when the broad beans are to be stored dry for the winter or when seeds are to be obtained. To do this, let the broad beans dry on the plant. The harvest time is much later here and can be easily recognized acoustically: Just shake a pod vigorously and listen: If the beans rattle in the pod, you can harvest.
Tip
When cooking your fava beans, keep in mind that green beans have a significantly shorter cooking time than dried ones. Therefore, soak the dried broad beans overnight before cooking to save energy and cooking time.
