What is a fava bean?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

September 4, 2003

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In the third millennium BCE, the fava bean (Vicia faba Linnaeus) was cultivated in many locations in the Middle East, North Africa, and as far north as central Europe. Archaeologically speaking, it is as if the fava suddenly burst upon the agricultural scene. This bean is actually a member of the vetches, plants usually cultivated as animal fodder and to rebuild worn-out soils. ("Vicia", Hortus Third, Staff, Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, Cornell, 1976)

Broad Bean Crimson Flowered and Cabbage Krautcopf

Vicia faba var. faba (or major), broad bean,
has wide pods and is cooked and eaten as a 'vegetable'
before the pods mature and dry.
Broad Bean Crimson Flowered and Cabbage Krautcopf
Photographic Print by Sunniva Harte
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Fava beans have four main varieties or lineages, plants with desirable traits which people selected and cultivated. Vicia faba var. faba (or major), broad bean, has wide pods and is cooked and eaten as a 'vegetable' before the pods mature and dry. The horse bean (V. faba var. equina) is grown for animal forage. Vicia faba var. minor, tic or pigeon bean, and V. faba var. paucijuga are raised to maturity. The seeds or pulses are cooked and eaten or used in animal feed.

Of the main varieties of fava beans, there are landraces or local types, plants that grow better in one area than they do in another or have slightly different traits. Fava landraces are perpetuated by farmers that need reliable plants; the seeds handed down from parents to children for generations. ("Diversity of Farmer-named Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties in Morocco: A Scientific Basis for In Situ Conservation on-farm in Local Ecosystems", M. Sadiki, L. Belqadi, M. Mahdi, and D. Jarvis)

The fava is an ancient crop and a mystery. Small fava seeds were discovered at an archaeological site in northern Israel dating to 6500 BCE. But there is no archaeological evidence showing how humans domesticated this crop; no one has discovered any intermediate types of seeds. ("Vicia faba (Broad Bean, Faba Bean, Horse Bean, Tic Bean)", Hamish Robertson, Biodiversity Explorer, Iziko Museums of Cape Town, 2003)

All close relatives of the fava have fourteen chromosomes, fava has only twelve. It cannot hybridize with any of its relatives and did not descend from any of them. Where the fava came from is obscure for no wild fava has ever been found. It is presumed that in the intervening centuries, the wild fava went extinct. ("Vicia faba L.", F.J. Muehlbauer and Abebe Tullu, NewCrop, Purdue University, 1997)

Den Virtuella Floran has three great photographs of the fava taken by Anna-Lena Anderberg. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/faba/vicia/vicifab.html

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

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Bean Tower

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Conserve garden space and enjoy delicious pole beans! - Sturdy galvanized Bean Tower is 72 in. tall and will support up to 12 plants. Built to last against high winds and bad weather. Beans grow up, harvest is easier to pick. Assembles in minutes, collapses for convenient storage. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Gardening Aids!]

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Garden Soil Inoculant

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Improves the yields of peas and beans. – Encourages nitrogen fixation so plants develop stronger roots. Shake onto the soil as you plant. Treats 150 ft. of row. 8.7 oz. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Gardening Aids!]

Early Contender Bush Beans

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The Standard Early Bean

Gurney's Choice Starts producing nearly a week ahead of most varieties.

Bears 6- to 8-inch stringless pods and nothing stops it! Tolerates mosaic virus, greasy pod and heat. Cooks up tender, cans and freezes with no loss of quality. 49 DAYS. Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Beans!]

[Vegetable Seed!] [Vegetable Plants!]

Beans are one of your best bets for yield and versatility. A 15- foot row of pole beans will produce about 12 pounds of beans over a 6 to 8 week period. Grow green snap, wax and lima beans for fresh eating, freezing and canning.

Improved Golden Wax Bush Beans

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Improved Rust Resistance!

Gurney's Choice Blemish-free, bright yellow pods are stringless, 4-5 inches long, with a big, buttery flavor. The perfect choice for the home garden, no matter how small.

Grows 16-18 inches high, with minimal spread. Sets general crops--plenty for processing!

50 DAYS. Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

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[Vegetable Seed!] [Vegetable Plants!]

Beans are one of your best bets for yield and versatility. A 15- foot row of pole beans will produce about 12 pounds of beans over a 6 to 8 week period. Grows green snap, wax and lima beans for fresh eating, freezing and canning.

Comments: Has white, brown-eyed seeds. Rust proof and blemish free. Resistant to common bean mosaic virus. Upright and compact plant. Needs no support. Ideal for Northern gardeners. Buttery flavor.

Purple Pod Pole Bean

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A Snap to Spot and Harvest

Quick-pick purple pods stand out against the foliage--gets you in and out of the garden fast!

Stringless, tasty and temptingly green when cooked. Produces 4-6 tender seeds per 6- to 7-inch pod. 67 DAYS. Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Beans!]

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Baby Thorogreen Lima Beans

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Sets Well in Adverse Weather

Gurney's Choice Prolific even during drought, heat. Bush-type plants set 3-5 tasty seeds per pod. 75 DAYS. Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

Beans are one of your best bets for yield and versatility. A 15- foot row of pole beans will produce about 12 pounds of beans over a 6 to 8 week period. Grows green snap, wax and lima beans for fresh eating, freezing and canning.

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Comments: Sturdy, upright growth for easy picking. Now improved for the North. More heat tolerant. Higher yields. Easier to harvest and shell than other varieties. Keeps its flavor canned or frozen. Considered the finest of the large limas.

Dwarf Horticultural Shell Beans

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60 days-Meaty flavor, fresh or dry

Dwarf Horticultural shell beans are excellent snap beans when green and delicious dried.

Buff with maroon streaks.

Hearty and healthful.

The shelled bans of these varieties are rich in flavor and nutrients, such as folate (needed for healthy blood and immune system).

Add cooked beans to soups and salads, puree or bake. Dry beans keep easily in lidded jars.
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