Posted by neotoma on May 28, 2013 at 15:23
PermalinkI planted several fava bean plants last fall, mainly as a way to get something into my newly dug flowerbed.
Now they've flowered and set pods. Does anyone know how to tell when fava bean pods are ripe for picking? I've never grown fava beans before, so I really have no idea.
1 comment
As I understand it, fava beans are the same thing as broad beans, and they are often treated as an early spring delicacy. My vote would be to pick them as early/young as possible, when the pods have only just fattened, if you want them in that delicious young, green state. Or leave them until the beans turn dry if you want to use them as they are often used in the Middle East as a dried pulse. Or anything in between if you want them somewhat mature. Basically I think you can't go wrong here, but I'd vote for "as early as possible" :)