Vicia faba
Broad Bean · Fava Bean · Faba Bean · Field Bean · Tic Bean
a vegetable shrub or vine of the Vicia genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Vicia
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 1 (unit unspecified)
- Fertility
- Self fertile
Uses
Edible uses
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Vegetable
- Plant part
- Seed
- Preparation
- Raw, Dried
- Product or use
- Vegetable
- Plant part
- Seed
- Preparation
- Dried, Ground
- Product or use
- Flour
- Plant part
- Seed
- Preparation
- Dried, Cooked
- Product or use
- Vegetable
- Plant part
- Seed
- Preparation
- Fermented
- Product or use
- Tempeh
- Plant part
- Seed
- Preparation
- Popped, Roasted
- Product or use
- Snack
- Plant part
- Seed pods
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Vegetable
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
- Product or use
- Diuretic
Material uses
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Soap making
Environment
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
Cultivation
Prefers a fairly heavy loam but succeeds in a sunny position in most soils that are well-drained[1][10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes dry conditions according to some reports[15][10], whilst another says that it is drought tolerant once established[4]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7[10]. Broad beans are often cultivated for their edible seed and sometimes also as a green manure crop. There are two main types, the 'longpod' beans are the more hardy and can be sown in the autumn in cool temperate areas, whilst 'windsor' beans, which are considered to be finer flavoured, are less tolerant of the cold and so are best sown in spring[4]. The ideal temperature range in the growing season is between 18 and 27°c, at higher temperatures the flowers are often aborted[10]. The autumn sown varieties are more susceptible to 'chocolate spot' fungus, this problem can be alleviated by the addition of potash to the soil[15]. Black fly can be a major problem in late spring. Autumn sown crops are less likely to be affected. Pinching out the soft tips of the plants, one they are tall enough and are beginning to flower, can reduce the problem since the blackfly always start on the soft shoots and then spread to the older stems. Grows well with carrots, cauliflowers, beet, cucumber, cabbages, leeks, celeriac, corn and potatoes, but is inhibited by onions, garlic and shallots[6][9]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[10]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (32202/01/01)
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (32202/01/01)
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. ()
Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (32202/01/01)
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (32202/01/01)
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (32202/01/01)
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (32202/01/01)
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (32202/01/01)
Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (32202/01/01)