Fava Bean (Broad Bean) in Zone 3a & 3b
Vicia faba
Yes, fava bean (broad bean) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Plant it outside May 9–May 16.
When to plant fava bean (broad bean) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 9–May 16 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 25–Aug 1 (~77 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of fava bean (broad bean) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionMay 9–May 16
- RadishMay 2–May 9
- CarrotMay 9–May 16
- LettuceMay 16–May 23
- BeetMay 9–May 16
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)May 9–May 16
Fava beans (also called broad beans) look and grow like nothing else in the bean family. Where snap and pole beans want warm soil and hate frost, fava beans want cool weather and go in the ground earliest of any bean you'll grow.
How fava bean (broad bean) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Fava bean (broad bean) needs about 77 days from sowing to first harvest.
Fava Bean (Broad Bean) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Not usually | May 9–May 16 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 20–Jun 27 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Jun 5–Jun 12 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 4–Mar 11 | May 20–May 27 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 12–Apr 19 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Mar 27–Apr 3 |
Harvest dates are about 77 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
- Cabbage: Fixes nitrogen that heavy-feeding cabbage uses, the same mechanism bush beans provide cucumbers. Fava is a cool-season legume, though, so the overlap only works where both are in the ground at once: an overwintered fava or an early spring one, not a summer planting.
Where to buy fava bean seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's fava bean seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Broad Windsor': The old-standard type Vroma is bred to outperform in heat: large buff seeds, a sturdy 4-foot bush, hardy to 12°F. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing fava bean (broad bean)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Fava Bean (Broad Bean) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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