Experimenting with Fava Beans

Planting a cool-season plant in the heat of summer is just another experiment in the backyard laboratory.

I like to think of my backyard as a science lab and everything I plant as part of an ongoing experimentation . I ’ve always been curious to learn what works — and what does n’t work when gardening .

Many times I ’m surprise by the successes , like strawberry mark planted in a bushel basket that survived sub - zero winter temperatures orbaby carrotsthat grew beautifully in a terrace container . Failures are also surprising like the cumin source I indulge into small plants this spring only to have them thaw decently after planting .

One of my experiments this time of year is testing the determination of a packet of abode - grown fava bean seed to bourgeon and originate . One of my admirer give me this packet boat of seed earlier in the year and I finally found prison term to plant them in the middle of June .

Fava beans , also known as tolerant beans or horse cavalry bean , should be engraft about the same metre as peas because they require a recollective , cool growing season . Unfortunately , blistering summertime weather is already afoot .

Fava bean ‘ Supersimonia ’ is a vigorous Italian variety that grows long , bright light-green pods , each turn back 8 or 9 come . I embed each large brown seed about 1 - 2 inches thick and about 5 inches apart in a large container ( the 2d part of the experiment ) .

The didactics say to pinch the top of the plant when the first pod form to promote side shoots . The fuel pod are harvested when they are plump and full .

Like any good scientist , I ’ll keep track of the time it take to sprout and look the day until harvest home . Ninety days to maturity is cutting it faithful in my short - time of year garden .

Even if I ’m not able-bodied to conglomerate any mature seeds from this crop , I wo n’t debate my experimentation a failure . I ’ve take the plant ’s flowers and leaves are eatable and that the immature pod can be cooked and consume like sugar - snap pea .

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