Vicia faba - the broad bean, fava or faba bean - is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is is a stiffly erect plant 0.5 to 1.8 metres (1.6 to 5.9 ft) tall, with stems square in cross-section, grey-green leaves 10 to 25 centimetres (3.9 to 9.8 in) long and pinnate with 2–7 leaflets and white flowers. Unlike most other vetches, the leaves do not have tendrils for climbing over other vegetation. The broad bean has high plant hardiness - it can withstand harsh and cold climates.
Water seedlings in fine mist, maintaining the soil always moist - if in a pot make sure you use drainage pots. After a few weeks, watering once or twice a week should be fine, depending on the quality of your mulch.
Incorporate well-rotted manure before planting & apply a general purpose fertiliser 1 week before planting.
Provide support for growing stems. Pinch the top 5 cm off the top of the stem as the first beans begin to form. Can be harvested early and cooked like mangetout.
The ideal temperature range in the growing season is between 18 and 27°c, at higher temperatures the flowers are often aborted
Although often used as an edible seed, there are reports that eating the seed of this plant can cause the disease 'Favism' in susceptible people. Inhaling the pollen can also cause the disease. Favism, which is a severe haemolytic anaemia due to an inherited enzymatic deficiency, only occurs in cases of excessive consumption of the raw seed (no more details are given[K]) and when the person is genetically inclined towards the disease. About 1% of Caucasians and 15% of Negroids are susceptible to the disease
