tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post2084380089593199200..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: End of Season Review - Fava BeansMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-2021958165420346702016-01-23T20:52:42.085-05:002016-01-23T20:52:42.085-05:00They are mild, almost nutty, and creamy in texture...They are mild, almost nutty, and creamy in texture - so yum! From what I know of your tastes, I have a feeling you will really like them.<br /><br />Although I haven't tried the dried ones yet, I do recall my mom making them when I was a kid and they had a stronger taste and drier texture...although that may have just been because of how she cooked them.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50150135030537788412016-01-23T10:43:04.230-05:002016-01-23T10:43:04.230-05:00I have never eaten fava beans ever, so not sure if...I have never eaten fava beans ever, so not sure if I like them. But the fact that you can start them so early then have them out of the space by mid-summer certainly makes them an ideal crop! I think I'll try some at the farmer's market this year to see if I want to give them a go. Beautiful pics of the plants, Margaret.Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15062887485572880322016-01-22T20:52:15.900-05:002016-01-22T20:52:15.900-05:00I don't really know much about fava beans and ...I don't really know much about fava beans and am not sure if their preference towards cooler weather is more in terms of germination or actual growth - I may find out next year as one idea I'm tossing around is doing a summer sowing of favas that would mature in the fall. I believe Phuong is in zone 6b & you are in 7 - since she was able to overwinter broad beans, I would say you have a very good shot of being successful as well.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15964868692372112512016-01-22T20:44:33.726-05:002016-01-22T20:44:33.726-05:00I love veg that overwinter, but have yet not been ...I love veg that overwinter, but have yet not been very successful at it. To be fair, I haven't given it a really good try - I do have some spinach under a bit of straw at the moment, so we will see how that does. It really would be wonderful to have that extra early harvest, when everything else is just getting started.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-49146083157398985462016-01-22T13:53:57.175-05:002016-01-22T13:53:57.175-05:00I've contemplated growing favas before, but I&...I've contemplated growing favas before, but I've never done it. I wasn't sure how they would do with our springs that like to go from cool to hot really quickly. How cold of temperatures can they handle? I'm wondering how early I could plant them or maybe even overwinter them.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00193278804750154921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33675732113931891912016-01-22T10:42:14.701-05:002016-01-22T10:42:14.701-05:00I really like how Michelle grows them in the same ...I really like how Michelle grows them in the same spot as her tomatoes will go. I've over-wintered Windsor broad beans before with an October planting, and with an unusually early spring we got fava beans by March.Phuonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658691564062044986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15120247476064234332016-01-21T17:40:53.368-05:002016-01-21T17:40:53.368-05:00Such wonderful suggestions, Michelle - thanks! I&...Such wonderful suggestions, Michelle - thanks! I've made a note of the grilled/roasted favas and will definitely give them a go this year. I would never have thought to eat the new leaves - I haven't eaten pea shoots either, so I must give both of them a try.<br /><br />When I used the trellis for the Ianto favas, it was ok, but I did find it a bit tedious to keep them attached to the trellis. The fact that I had a double row with 2 trellises, likely didn't help matters. I'll be interested to see what you do and how you find using a trellis for them this year.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-80014758615854492762016-01-21T10:45:44.516-05:002016-01-21T10:45:44.516-05:00Favas are one of my favorite things to grow and ea...Favas are one of my favorite things to grow and eat! You hit on the reaon why I always grow Extra Precoce Violetto, the are early, which means I can get summer beans going in the same spot. I do (or used to do) the same as David, grow them in tomato cages, which keeps them from flopping and also provides support for bird netting early in the season. I always grow them in the same spot where I grew tomatoes so in my mild climate I sow the favas as soon as I remove the tomato plants. Last year I tied my tomato plants to a trellis so this year the favas are getting the same treatment.<br /><br />This year you have to try grilled or roasted favas, oh my are they delicious and the easiest way ever to prepare them. The pods are picked when you can feel a nice fat bean inside but before they start to bulge up. Slick the pods with some olive oil and then grill or roast them until they have dark brown or slightly blacken spots and the pods are tender. Then season the pods with salt and whatever other seasonings strike your fancy and then get messy - eat them with your hands, pop the beans out like edamame and then if the pods were tender enough eat them too, about the only thing not edible are the strings running along the sides of the pods. Food52 and 101 Cookbooks both have good recipes or just do a web search, there's lots of good recipes for grilled favas out there.<br /><br />And don't forget to taste some of the tender new leaves, they can be eaten as a salad green or cooked like spinach. Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-52714274532191794362016-01-21T09:35:07.684-05:002016-01-21T09:35:07.684-05:00You can pick them at either time. I usually prefe...You can pick them at either time. I usually prefer to pick the when they are mature & just starting to dry out; I have a feeling that may also increase how much you harvest, but I've not tested that theory out yet.<br /><br />Beans are SO much fun, relatively easy to grow and add nitrogen back to the soil. You should give them a try...I'm sure you could squeeze them in somewhere on those extra acres ;)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-85814185086486000182016-01-21T09:27:15.172-05:002016-01-21T09:27:15.172-05:00Yes, I doubt they would survive, although I do rec...Yes, I doubt they would survive, although I do recall one garden I visited in Niagara Falls about 20 years ago and they were able to overwinter some type of climbing bean, but I can't recall what it was. They are a tad warmer there than we are here, so I'm sure that makes a big difference.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-17630477715709623892016-01-21T09:23:56.522-05:002016-01-21T09:23:56.522-05:00Aaah, so that's why your freezer is so full ;)...Aaah, so that's why your freezer is so full ;)<br /><br />I certainly didn't have that problem this year...if I'm lucky, I may have it next year!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-48082961150487725522016-01-21T09:21:26.088-05:002016-01-21T09:21:26.088-05:00I'm always up for a challenge - the tomato cag...I'm always up for a challenge - the tomato cage idea is a good one & I actually have a few folding ones that I don't use anymore.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-57428260151560185682016-01-21T09:19:24.056-05:002016-01-21T09:19:24.056-05:00No, I didn't notice the perfume - must get my ...No, I didn't notice the perfume - must get my nose in there this year! Yikes - I had not thought of ol' Hannibal as we call them favas as a matter of course...I wonder if their absence from gardens around here is related ;)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54150099324246107902016-01-21T07:44:38.669-05:002016-01-21T07:44:38.669-05:00Golly, I don't know if I've even ever eate...Golly, I don't know if I've even ever eaten fava beans. I like the idea of growing beans and having dried beans for later. Do you let them completely dry on the vine or pick when they start to dry?Karin / Southern Meadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06514989784715204223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-48681538068198880642016-01-21T07:33:01.542-05:002016-01-21T07:33:01.542-05:00Some people sow their broad beans here in the autu...Some people sow their broad beans here in the autumn and let them stand in the ground over winter, though that probably wouldn't work for you, I doubt they'd enjoy such freezing conditions as they'd get there. I've only grown broad beans a couple of times myself, they're my least favourite bean so I prefer to use the space for runners or French beans.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-10912417696215467872016-01-20T21:31:34.440-05:002016-01-20T21:31:34.440-05:00I've been growing broadbeans for a few years t...I've been growing broadbeans for a few years too. I always plant too many and then i never know what to do with them. I freeze and blanch mine. Mrs.Pickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678592143938874654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-19818659373000617672016-01-20T20:33:13.252-05:002016-01-20T20:33:13.252-05:00When I grew them I used a cage to support them. Bo...When I grew them I used a cage to support them. Bought some<br />tomato cages and unfolded them to make the cage. I picked them when the pods started to fall over from their upright posture. Poor germination and low yield just didn't make them worth the trouble when I can buy big bags of frozen beans.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33872825271763826822016-01-20T18:11:03.544-05:002016-01-20T18:11:03.544-05:00We freeze lots of the fresh beans. Did you notice ...We freeze lots of the fresh beans. Did you notice the perfume of the flowers? When I hear them called fava beans I can't help thinking of Hannibal LechterSue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-12121498452103186412016-01-20T17:50:50.213-05:002016-01-20T17:50:50.213-05:00They do look awful, don't they? It's no w...They do look awful, don't they? It's no wonder I thought there was something wrong with them! But inside, the dried beans are absolutely perfect.<br /><br />I think it was seeing all of the broad beans growing in UK gardens that got me to add them to my list this past year - and I'm sure glad I did!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-74680936914147503282016-01-20T16:06:56.868-05:002016-01-20T16:06:56.868-05:00Broad Beans are VERY popular in the UK. The variet...Broad Beans are VERY popular in the UK. The varieties I have grown are mostly the "Longpod" types, (e.g. "Imperial Green Longpod") which typically have 7 or 8 beans per pod, though I have also grown "Stereo" which is much shorter as a plant and has small pods with 4 or 5 beans - good for small gardens like mine. Those black ones of yours look really weird - almost bad!Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.com