edenhana

Broad Beans

An autumn/winter-sown legume that improves soil nitrogen and provides an early spring harvest before summer crops go in.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
20cm
Harvest
Ready in 105-130 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
Multiple pods per plant over spring
Cost to grow
~$6 NZD
Grocery value
~$25 NZD
Companion plants
Brassicas, Carrots, Celery, Lettuce, Potatoes, Sweetcorn, Kohlrabi
Plants to avoid nearby
Fennel
Common diseases
Chocolate spot, Rust
Common pests
Black bean aphid

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-June. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-May. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: March-April.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Sown in autumn/winter so plants establish before the coldest weather and crop early the following spring
    • Seed can rot in cold, waterlogged soil, so ensure the bed drains well before sowing

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Frost-hardy seedlings establish slowly over winter
    • Black bean aphid tends to appear as growth starts to pick up

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Growth speeds up in spring; pinching out growing tips once flowering begins discourages black bean aphid, which favours soft new tips
    • Chocolate spot can appear as brown blotches on leaves in damp, humid conditions

  4. Flowering & podding

    • Black bean aphid often clusters at flower and pod-forming tips; check regularly
    • Rust and chocolate spot risk both continue in humid weather

  5. Harvest105-130 days from sowing, for an early spring harvest

    • Pick pods while young and tender, or let them size up further before shelling
    • Chocolate spot can still affect foliage during harvest in damp weather, though it rarely spoils the pods themselves

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