what is broad bean
The broad bean, also known as the fava bean, faba bean and horse bean, is the original and only bean of the Old World. A vetch, related to the pea families, and a legume, it has been used as a human food source for more than 8,000 years and has made a lasting mark on European, Middle Eastern and Indian cultures.gricultural Information. The broad bean is a cool weather crop, grown in late fall, winter and spring, but seldom in the summer in any but the coolest of regions. It tolerates most soils, though alkaline soil can reduce the amount of nitrogen the plant is able to fix into the soil.