Plant in early spring where temperatures are colder. The distance between plants in the row should be approximately 6 inches. Well-drained seedbeds, cool weather, and moderate moisture all favor good stand establishment. If the soil is dry, irrigate or plant before a fall rain. Because high seeding rates can make planting a fava bean cover crop expensive, some growers allow part of their fava bean cover crop to go to seed.
Harvested seed provides stock for the following year's cover crop.
Fava bean roots need to be colonized by an appropriate strain of rhizobia bacteria to be able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms. Inoculating seed with the proper rhizobia bacteria ensures that the bacteria will be present when the seed germinates. Use fresh inoculant, protect it from heat and light, and apply it to seeds just before planting according to the manufacturer's directions. Cover broadcast seed with soil to protect inoculant from sunlight. Fava bean can tolerate high mowing but does not withstand close mowing or grazing.