Vicia faba
30 seeds
Maturity: 85 days
Broad Windsor is old heirloom, listed by Fearing Burr in Field and Vegetable Gardens of America in 1863. Large, flavorful beans are high in protein and common in Mediterranean and North African recipes. Upright plants can get as tall as 4' and will need to be staked as they are increasingly laden with beans. Hardy down to 12°F, fava beans tolerates frost and prefer daytime air temps below 75°F. Beans can be enjoyed fresh or dried but are a labor of love, as each bean needs to be shelled. Beautiful in hearty winter soups.
FROM THE FARMERS
We have developed a personal passion for fava beans. There feels like a hole in our northern subsistence of dry staple goods and favas have proven to be a viable path to starting to fill that hole. We trialed super unique varieties for years, letting upwards of 10 beautifully colored different favas cross and mix, picking the fattest beans to create a localized landrace. In 2023, we planted out 80% of our stock in the hopes of finally offering it for sale. Our kiddo was so excited to see a porcupine on the farm. We were not.
Alas, we enjoyed eating the rest of the stock as a consolation and will start over when the farm is back in full production. In the mean time, this classic heirloom is a great place to start.