How to Grow

How to Grow Broad Beans in the UK

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Broad bean (Vicia faba)

A dense, healthy stand of broad bean plants growing in rows. Photo: Schlaghecken Josef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

12 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early February to early May
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7
Biggest risk
Broad bean chocolate spot

In the UK, broad beans go in the ground early February to early May.

Broad beans (Vicia faba) — Hardy annual legume.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early February in southern England to mid March further north.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Watch: Growing Broad Beans at Home

A quick SoilCommander video on growing broad beans at home in UK conditions — sowing, spacing, care and harvest in under a minute.

Regional Planting Calendar

Region Sow
Southern England early February to early May
Midlands derived early March to mid May
Northern England derived mid March to late May
Scotland derived late March to late May

Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.

Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow outdoors "March, April and even early May, for harvests throughout the summer" - Southern England's mild climate and latest first frosts in the UK (Met Office) support this window at its earliest edge, from February. In "mild regions or very warm, sheltered sites" - which describes much of Southern England - RHS also notes hardy longpod cultivars (e.g. 'Aquadulce Claudia') can be sown in October/November to overwinter for the very earliest crop, or in February as an early spring alternative.

Midlands - detail & sources

DERIVED: RHS's general "March to early May" sowing window shifted about two weeks later than Southern England, reflecting the Midlands' slightly later soil-warming and last frosts (Met Office south-to-north gradient). Skip the October/November overwintering sowing here - RHS restricts it to "mild regions or very warm, sheltered sites" - and start with the spring window instead.

Northern England - detail & sources

DERIVED: interpolated later again than the Midlands - start sowing from mid-March once soil has warmed, as Northern England sees later last frosts than the Midlands (Met Office). Based on RHS's March-to-early-May sowing window. Autumn overwintering sowing is not recommended this far north; use the spring window.

Scotland - detail & sources

DERIVED: Scotland has the UK's latest soil-warming and shortest season (Met Office), so sow from late March into April and finish by the end of May. Based on RHS's March-to-early-May sowing window. Skip the October/November overwintering sowing - RHS limits it to mild, sheltered sites - Scotland's harder frosts make spring sowing the reliable choice.

Quick Facts

Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7
Sunlight 6-10 hours direct sun
Germination temp 3C
Optimal growing temp 18-28C
Soil texture RHS: "rich, free-draining soil"; before sowing "fork in plenty of well-rotted manure or home-made garden compost - at least two bucketfuls per square metre/yard".
Drainage RHS: free-draining, in a "sunny, sheltered site".
Lifecycle Hardy annual legume; semi-hardy -- hardy longpod cultivars (e.g. Aquadulce Claudia) withstand light frost and are sown outdoors in autumn to overwinter, but not heavy frost or hard freezes.
Edible parts pods (shelled or whole), young shoot tips

At a Glance

Vicia faba Broad bean Broad bean rust Broad bean chocolate sp… Broad bean seed beetle Pea and bean weevil Blackfly (black bean ap… DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

Young broad bean plants staked with canes and coming into flower in a raised bed — "-2019-05-17 Broad bean plants, Trimingham" by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“-2019-05-17 Broad bean plants, Trimingham” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: RHS: plants in the ground "don't generally need regular watering, unless they are grown in light, free-draining soil"; give a "good soak as they start flowering, and again two weeks later". Containers need frequent watering throughout the season. Univ. of Maryland: "Keep the root zone moist by watering deeply and regularly during dry periods. Water more frequently when pods begin to develop".

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing & Establishment 0 Sow 5-7.5cm (2-3in) deep, or start indoors in pots/modular trays at 5cm (2in) deep with the seed scar facing downwards (RHS). Space plants 15-23cm (6-9in) apart within the row; grow in double rows 23cm (9in) apart with 60cm (2ft) between each double row, or single rows 45cm (18in) apart (RHS). Two UK sowing windows: hardy longpod cultivars (e.g. 'Aquadulce Claudia') can be autumn-sown in October or November in mild, sheltered sites to overwinter as small seedlings for the earliest crop; the main sowing is spring, from February through April and even early May, for harvests through summer (RHS). Fava/broad bean is a semi-hardy annual that withstands light frosts but not hard freezes (Univ. of Maryland). Seed germinates once average soil temperature at sowing depth reaches about 3-5C (Saskatchewan Pulse Growers).
Vegetative Growth 3 Most broad beans need staking as they grow: insert sturdy stakes at each corner of the row and every 1.2m (4ft) along it, then run string around the stakes at 30cm (1ft) intervals from the ground (RHS). Dwarf varieties such as 'The Sutton' (to 45cm/18in) generally support each other, especially in double rows, and need no staking (RHS). Plants in the ground do not usually need regular watering at this stage unless grown in light, free-draining soil (RHS).
Flowering 6 Give plants a good soak as flowering begins, and again two weeks later - this single step "greatly improves the harvest" (RHS). Keep watering consistent through this stage, especially in light or free-draining soil (RHS; Univ. of Maryland: "keep the root zone moist by watering deeply and regularly during dry periods").
Pod Development 7 Once the lowest set of flowers has formed small pods, pinch out the shoot tips at the top of each plant - this channels energy into pod development and reduces blackfly (black bean aphid) infestations, which target the soft growing tips (RHS). The pinched tips are edible and can be cooked like spinach (RHS). Keep the root zone moist, watering deeply and regularly during dry periods - water more frequently once pods begin to develop (Univ. of Maryland).
Ripening & Harvest 8 Pick pods when they are full but still relatively small - small beans are sweeter and more tender than large ones. Check the scar on the bean: it should still be white or green, not black (RHS). Young, immature pods can be picked whole at about 7cm (3in) long and cooked like French beans (RHS).
Senescence & End of Crop 9 Once harvesting has finished, cut plants down to the base and compost the top growth. As a legume, broad bean fixes nitrogen from the air at its roots - leave the roots in the ground after cutting to boost soil nitrogen levels for the next crop (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

A pile of freshly picked broad bean pods, one split open to show the beans inside — "-2021-06-30 Harvested Broad beans, Trimingham" by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“-2021-06-30 Harvested Broad beans, Trimingham” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: pick "pods when they are full but still relatively small"; the "scar on the bean...should still be white or green, not black". Young pods can be eaten whole at "about 7cm (3in) long". RHS gives no time from sowing to harvest and no storage method.

Diseases

Broad bean rust
moderate

Uromyces viciae-fabae

RHS: broad bean rust affects "Broad beans" and "peas and other related legumes"; in the UK the fungus completes its entire life cycle on broad bean. The RHS broad bean guide also names broad bean rust among its…

Broad bean chocolate spot
cosmetic_to_severe

Botrytis fabae (also Botrytis cinerea)

RHS: Botrytis fabae "affects only broad beans" among garden bean crops. The RHS broad bean guide also names chocolate spot among its diseases. RHS: contained in dry weather ("small round spots") but "very damaging" in…

Pests

Broad bean seed beetle
minor

Bruchus rufimanus

RHS: broad bean seed beetle affects broad bean seeds. The RHS broad bean guide also names broad bean seed beetle among its pests. RHS: "affected seeds will usually germinate...the seed embryo is undamaged"; "can…

Pea and bean weevil
high_at_seedling_stage

Sitona lineatus

RHS: pea and bean weevil affects "Broad bean and garden pea". The RHS broad bean guide also names pea and bean weevils among its pests. RHS: "there may be a check in growth if small seedlings are heavily fed on" but…

Blackfly (black bean aphid)
moderate

Aphis fabae species group

RHS: blackfly affects "broad, French and runner beans". On broad beans specifically, "pod formation can be poor if the plants become heavily affected". The RHS broad bean guide also names blackfly (black bean aphid)…

References

  1. Tier 1. Primary UK source for sowing time, depth, spacing, staking, watering, pinching out, harvest and end-of-season advice.

  2. Tier 1. RHS crop overview: cultivar groups (longpod, dwarf, hardy autumn types), edible young pods and shoot tips.

  3. Tier 1. US extension corroboration; explicitly covers fava/broad beans (hardiness, watering, sun).

  4. Tier 1. Agronomic reference for temperature and soil pH ranges.

  5. Tier 1. Corroborating source for germination soil temperature.

  6. Tier 1. RHS source for Uromyces viciae-fabae on broad bean.

  7. Tier 1. RHS source; Botrytis fabae affects only broad beans among garden bean crops.

  8. Tier 1. RHS source for Bruchus rufimanus.

  9. Tier 1. RHS source; names broad bean and garden pea as hosts.

  10. Tier 1. RHS source; names broad, French and runner beans as hosts.

  11. Tier 1. Taxonomy/EPPO code reference.

  12. Tier 1. UK climate context for the south-to-north sowing gradient and late-frost risk used to derive regional windows.

12 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow broad beans in the UK?

In southern England, from early February. In northern England and Scotland, wait until mid March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow broad beans?

Sow early February to early May, at around 3°C for germination.

What soil pH do broad beans need?

A pH of about 6–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect broad beans?

Our data links 2 diseases and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-06

Sowing and harvest timings for broad beans sit alongside every other crop in the UK vegetable planting calendar. For the wider job list in its main February window, see what to plant in February in the UK. If you are planning the bed around it, how to grow peas and how to grow beans suit similar conditions and rotate well with it.

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