Pods are large 7-12 inch long and contain not more than 5 to 7 large flat seeds, similar to lima but more angular. Culture - Fava beans do best in moist, rich soil. Unlike green beans, they do not thrive in hot weather but like cool weather, even tolerating freezing temperatures. Seed in the fall for an early spring crop. Large seeds are planted 2 inches deep, six inches between plants on 40 inch row spacing.
Germination takes two weeks.
Plants respond to irrigation. Selection - Fava beans mature in 65 days as a green bean and 90 to 100 days for dry beans. The green bean stage are harvested and handled as regular green beans and sold by the pound. Dried beans are stored and used during off-season.