I'm just now sowing my first crop of favas...overwintering either Sweet Lorane or Broad Windsors (Territorial Seed.)

Any tips or tricks? I just pulled out all the old corn and spent all morning getting the ground prepped. I would love to hear anything at all about these wonder beans.

Thanks.

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001

Answers

I have tryed to grow them several different times and have never been successful. I think our climate is too cool and damp for them.

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001

All I know about them is that Hannibal Lecter seems to like them! :)

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I'm with Sherri, except I THINK that fava beans are similar to lima beans. Have you eaten them before? Do you like them? If not, I wouldn't bother growing them -- unless they're for animal feed or something.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I have no idea about Hannibal Lector as I refuse to watch those odious movies! Favas are for a cover crop primarily, but I understand that they are quite edible when eaten like limas...so I thought I'd ask. I had no idea they are considered to be so awful, but the above association makes it very apparent. Yikes.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Sorry Sheepish, I didn't mean to gross you out! The only other thing I know about fava beans is a half-remembered fact from my days working in the blood bank. Eating too many fava beans can cause hemolytic anemia in people of certain ethnic heritage because they lack an enzyme needed to digest a chemical in the beans. Unfortunately I don't remember which ethnic groups are at risk. I don't like lima beans so I probably wouldn't like fava beans either.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001