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Home BEAN Broad Windsor Bean Seed

BROAD WINDSOR

BROAD WINDSOR

80 days. Popular in European gardens, Broad Windsor is one of the tastiest of all dried beans and one of the largest! When eaten at the shelling stage, you’ll discover why their mild flavor makes them perfect partners with many spices and herbs. Great for falafels. The sturdy bushes stand 4 feet tall, produce 4–5 inch pods, and are reliably hardy to 12°F. Buff colored seeds; 15 per ounce.

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SEED

$3.35

$3.35

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Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
67%
(4)
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M
Marla T.
High germination rate

Most of the seeds I planted have sprouted. Planted early November for cover crop in a raised bed. Zone 8b. Hoping they will be tasty early in the spring.

C
Chelsea P.
Great Germination and hardy so far

We planted these for the first time this year and have had nearly 100% germination with direct seeding. The plants have grown quickly and easily survived the 28F freeze we just had. This is the first real frost of the season (October 6) and the plants seem to not be affected at all. We are using them as a cover crop so aren't looking for a bean harvest. Late season planting: early September was the first planting and the latest planting was beginning of October. The first seeds planted were already flowering prior to the frost.

C
Charlotte H.
Broad Windsor-Vicia faba for summer 2025 in MT

Good germination and lots of blossoms but was disappointed more pods didn't set. We were in a drought this year and also noted a lack of pollinators. Bees, butterflies, flies, & even wasps were fewer this yr than last. I am getting enough to freeze besides eat fresh but hope next year gives a better yield.

N
Nancy
fabulous faba

This is my second year sowing Vicia faba "Windsor" in Zone 10b. They have again all germinated and are vigorous, with numerous flower buds. I sowed them right after the tomatoes were done and plan to again, for a second year, chop them down before planting tomatoes in the same location. The favas tasted great last year and I look forward to eating them again this spring. The flowers are gorgeous and unusual too.

12
Soil Temp for Germ 45-65°F
Seed Depth 1-2"
Seed Spacing 3-6"
Days to Emergence 8-15
Thin Plants to 6-12"
Row Spacing 12-30"
Fertilizer Needs Low
Minimum Germination 80%
Seeds per Ounce Listed per variety
Seed Life 2-3 years

Vicia faba

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Fava beans prefer cool weather; sow as soon as soil can be worked in the spring
• Can be fall sown in zones 6 and above
• Beans are shallow rooted and can require up to 1/4 inch of water a day during hot weather
• Apply 1 cup of TSC's Complete fertilizer per 10 row feet, and 1 inch of compost

Direct Sowing
• One ounce of seed plants 4-10 row feet
• Sow September—October for an overwinter crop
• When sown in the fall and overwintered, fava beans mature in mid to late May

Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Aphids, bean weevils
• Insect control: Pyrethrin

Harvest & Storage
• Shelling beans: Pick when fully formed but still soft and green
• Dry beans: Harvest mature beans before pods begin to shatter in the field
• If weather prevents field drying, pull plants and dry inside on a tarp, turning pile daily for even drying
• To thresh dry beans: When material is brittle dry, place material in bag and swing against a hard surface, or beat with a stick or rake on a tarp
• Make sure beans are fully dry, then store in a cool place
• Bean weevils may be eliminated by freezing the seed near 0°F for 2 weeks

KEY TO BEAN DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
A* | Anthracnose
BB | Bacterial Blight
BBS | Bacterial Brown Spot
BLS | Bacterial Leaf Spot
BMV | Bean Mosaic Virus
CTM | Curly Top Beet Mosaic Virus
DM | Downy Mildew
HB | Halo Blight
PM | Powdery Mildew
PMV | Pod Mottle Virus
R | Common Rust
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

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