legume · direct sow
Fava Bean (Broad Bean): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating fava bean (broad bean) a few times a week needs about 10 plants in ~10 sq ft, worth about $23 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~3 sq ft | ~6 | ~$7 |
| 2 people | 5 | ~5 sq ft | ~10 | ~$11 |
| 4 people | 10 | ~10 sq ft | ~19 | ~$23 |
| 6 people | 15 | ~15 sq ft | ~28 | ~$34 |
Spacing
6" in row · 24" between rows
Sow depth
2"
Days to harvest
90 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 3 – May 5 | — |
| Zone 4 | Mar 29 – Apr 30 | — |
| Zone 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 20 | — |
| Zone 6 | Mar 9 – Apr 10 | Sep 14 – Oct 22 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 22 – Mar 26 | Sep 24 – Nov 1 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 11 – Mar 15 | Oct 15 – Nov 22 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 9 – Feb 10 | Nov 4 – Dec 12 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 20 – Jan 21 | Nov 14 – Dec 22 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
For shelling: pods glossy, 6 to 8 inches, beans plainly bulging. Small 3-inch pods can be eaten whole like snap beans.
Yield
About 0.75 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.75 lb).
Watch for
Pea aphid · Powdery mildew · Root rot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, spinach, kale. Keep away from onion, garlic, onion.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
72 kcal · 4.2 g fiber · 33 mg vitamin C · 250 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Fava Bean (Broad Bean) planting questions
How many fava bean (broad bean) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 10 plants, which takes around 10 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does fava bean (broad bean) need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 24" between rows. Sow 2" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant fava bean (broad bean)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing fava bean (broad bean) worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.75 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $23 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.