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How to Grow Fava Beans. Buttery, nutty, and a bit bitter, fava beans are a great addition
to your dinner table. Grow these beauties in your garden for a delightful new protein.
You will need Garden plot Tiller Fertilizer Fava bean seeds Mulch Soil (optional) and
black plastic (optional). Step 1. Choose a gardening site with full sun, good irrigation,
and crumbly soil. Step 2. Till the soil to remove any underlying weeds and to aerate
the soil. If you need to add soil to a garden, choose soil that has a low sand content. Step
3. Apply fertilizer using 1 cup fertilizer per 50 feet of garden. Till the soil to a
depth of 6 inches to incorporate the fertilizer. Then lightly water the soil to moisten it.
Step 4. Plant the seeds in early spring, when the soil has reached a temperature of at least
50 degrees Fahrenheit. Step 5. Plant the seeds 1 to 2 inches apart and 3 to 6 inches deep.
If you plan on having more than one row of seeds, the rows should be 24 inches apart.
Step 6. Cover the seeds with soil and then add 2 to 3 inches of mulch to keep the soil
moist and keep the weeds at bay. Step 7. Water the garden once a week, early in the morning,
and provide about an inch of water to the entire area. Early morning watering will give
the plants time to dry out and reduce the chance of disease. Step 8. Weed the garden
using shallow strokes to avoid uprooting your bean plants. Allow the garden to dry after
a heavy rain before weeding. If your growing season is short due to cold, you can cover
the soil with black plastic sheeting to warm up the soil and to prevent weeds. Step 9.
Pick the beans when the pods are plump, green, and filled with seeds -- in about 4 to 5 months.
Step 10. Rotate the location of your bean plantings each year to reduce nitrogen buildup
in the soil so you can enjoy these yummy beans every summer. Did you know Fava beans are
one of the world's oldest cultivated plants, being grown over 5,000 years ago.