How to tell when favas are ready?

Return to the Vegetable Gardening Forum | Post a Follow-Up

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by sunnibel7 Md 7 (My Page) on

Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 14:02

I finally succeeded in getting some favas to produce beans this year, but I don't know how to tell when they are ready to be picked. Can anyone help me out? Cheers!

Follow-Up Postings:

RE: How to tell when favas are ready?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by floral_uk 8/9 (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 14:49

You can eat the whole thing, pod and all, up to the length of your little finger. Thereafter eat them when you can feel the beans in the pods. When they are the size of your finger nail eat the beans unpeeled. As they get bigger and older the skins get tougher and they are better peeled. But I am far too lazy to do that. We just eat them younger. We're having some tonight.

RE: How to tell when favas are ready?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by sunnibel7 Md 7 (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 18:10

Thanks flora! I guess I'll pop open a pod and see what's what in there. I guess they must get fairly large, given the size of the seed I planted! How do you prefer to prepare them?

RE: How to tell when favas are ready?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by floral_uk 8/9 (My Page) on
Fri, Jun 6, 14 at 14:40

Swift boil ie about 3 minutes, then eat luke warm in vinaigrette, toss with fried chopped bacon and add to pasta, just add butter and chopped herbs and serve as a side dish, add to risottos ... a hundred ways. Anything you might do with a pea you can do with a fava. the old ones you can make hummus from. I don't use recipes much. I just cook whatever is on hand any way that seems appropriate.

RE: How to tell when favas are ready?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by fotoman 10/CA (My Page) on
Fri, Jun 6, 14 at 18:28

fava beans can get up to 18" long. Mine never do, but some varieties can.

RE: How to tell when favas are ready?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by glib 5.5 (My Page) on
Fri, Jun 6, 14 at 21:21

favas can be eaten at all stages, I have eaten the greens, including any flowers, the immature seeds, the mature seeds, and the dried seed.

Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

If you are a member, please log in.

If you aren't yet a member, join now!

Return to the Vegetable Gardening Forum

Information about Posting

You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
We have a strict no-advertising policy!
If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.