How High Do Broad Beans Grow?

Broad beans are easy to grow and nutritious.

Broad beans are a warm season vegetable also commonly referred to as fava beans, English beans and horse beans. The vegetable grows with minimal care and has a high nutritional value. Broad beans plants have distinct growth characteristics including height.

Description

Broad bean plants have a bushy growth and come in standard and dwarf sized varieties. Standard plants have a mature height of about 4 feet and the dwarf varieties grow 1 to 1-1/2 feet high. The plants bloom with black and white flowers that lead to leathery pods containing kidney-shaped or round beans.

Planting

The Purdue Cooperative Extension recommends planting broad beans in early spring. Plant the seeds 3 to 6 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches deep. Space rows about 2 feet apart. The beans are ready to harvest when pods are thick but still green.

Cultural Requirements

Plant broad beans in areas of full sun and a fertile, well-drained soil. Crumbly and loose soil helps with the emergence of seedlings. Rotate crop with a different crop every year as this reduces chances of diseases in the vegetable.

References

• Purdue University Cooperative Extension; Growing Beans in the Home Vegetable Garden; B. Rosie Lerner
• "The New Vegetable & Herb Expert"; D. G. Hessayon; 1997