Around this time each year, I harvest my broad bean (Vicia faba) crop.
Broad beans are also known as fava bean, faba bean, field bean, bell bean, or tic bean. Whatever you call this wonderful bean where you live, it never ceases to amaze with its abundant production in such a small plot. This year was no exception on my suburban food farm.
I sowed the seed back in early April (start of our Autumn) very densely into a 2.8 m2 area. Seeds were spaced about a hand span apart, as were the rows. All the seeds germinated and grew into 2 metre (6 1/2 ft) tall bean stalks. Due to all of the strong winds we had during September and October, most of the stalks have fallen over. I kept on watering them, and they in return kept on growing.
As the pods fill and all the flowers are gone, it is time to harvest. I cut the stalk off near the ground and leave the roots in the soil. This is because each root fibre has nitrogen nodules attached which will rot into the soil, leaving behind soluble nitrogen that will be taken up by the next crop. The rest of the organic matter rots providing other essential nutrients. I keep the three largest stalks laden with bean pods and hang them upside down under cover to dry out so that I can collect the seeds for next season. I store the dried beans in a glass jar until planting.
So here is my harvest. A big wicker laundry basket of broad bean pods. It was quite heavy. The stalks were thrown into the chicken run for the girls to scratch through, and the empty pods into the compost bin.
I set myself up in my favourite comfy outdoor lounge chair, and commenced shelling beans. I must say that there is nothing quite as relaxing and rewarding as spending a couple of hours doing this task (well maybe I can think of one other task).
The shelled beans weighed in at 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs). That is massive for such a small plot. Over the years, I have recorded my bean crop. Here it is for prosperity (if you’re interested).
- 2013 – 2.9 kg
- 2012 – 1.7 kg
- 2011 – 2.1 kg
- 2010 – 3.6 kg
- 2009 – 1.8 kg
- 2008 – 1.9 kg
All crops were from exactly the same sized plot. I can account for the variation, which is due to how wet the winter was. The more rainfall, the bigger the crop. Go figure! Amazing stuff that water.
Anyway, we ate some raw, which is much more nutritious than cooked broad beans by a factor of about 50, however because they don’t keep well in the fridge, we blanch and freeze the beans for stews and casseroles in autumn and winter. I especially love them in my pressure cooker version of Minestrone.
If you want to read about how I blanch broad beans then click through. It is a great way to save some when you have a glut.
Did anyone else grow Vicia faba this year? Do you have any favourite ways of cooking them?
I grew them this year although mine are not yet ready for harvesting. Not long now though. My dulce verde are about 3-4 inches long now but the red and black flowering ones are a way off yet. I’m looking forward to harvesting and will let you know how we go. I think our plots aren’t too much different in size either. 🙂
Jess, may your bean stalks grow tall and strong! Enjoy the halloumi.
Gav x
I love shelling peas, broad beans etc. it’s such a relaxing job. It’s one that the kids often join in with without being asked. Well done on your crop!
It is weirdly relaxing Linda. Totally agree.
Gav x
Here in northern NSW, I’m right at the northern end of the range for broad beans, and as the climate warms, maybe outside it. They’re getting harder and harder to get a decent yield from. This year’s winter wasn’t cold enough and we only got a small crop. My favourite combination is broad beans with lemon and garlic http://witcheskitchen.com.au/broad-bean-ful-medames/, but we have quite enough ways to use them that we never get to freezing any.
Great recipe Linda. I will give it a go.
Gav x
I’m still picking our crop of broad beans here in Tas. and by the look of things, I’ll be picking for a couple more weeks. I haven’t weighed the crop, but we’ve done well, and those I pick now will be frozen and will keep us going for quite a while.
I thought we’d lost our crop because in September, while we were in Queensland, we had frosts and then heavy rain, and the first beans I picked were brown and soft. However, since then the weather has been dry but so, so windy but the plants have produced a bumper crop. I’ll let some beans go to seed so that next year I won’t have to buy any..
Christine Phillips-Caldwell
Hi Christine, glad your crop survived and thrived. I love the simplicity of collecting broad bean seeds for the next season. Worth the minimal effort
Gav x
Ooo please dont call them Fava Beans – all i can think of is Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs and you know what he ate them with a glass of Chianti. Nighmares still abound. Maybe next year ill do the Broad Beans for my Hubby.
Nice movie reference Linda!
Gav x
Managed to harvest 1.4kg this year. I’m happy with that as my plot is small and I compete with the king parrots who snap off the stalks while they pick the soft young pods. When I have them my favourite way of cooking them is in risotto. I wish I could grow enough to freeze for winter, well done Gavin.
Thanks Fran, and well done for keeping the parrots off them. I never thought of using them in risotto. I will have to give it a go.
Gav x
We grow them to use in one recipe only. Broad Bean Bruschetta. Steam the beans, put them in a larger mortar and mash them adding lots of garlic and Olive Oil. A little Lemon or Lime juice to taste and then smear thickly on sourdough toast. We harvest gradually over a number of weeks and never have any spare to freeze.
John and Jean, your bruschetta sounds delicious. I will have to make some!
Gav