BROAD WINDSOR FAVA BEAN (Vicia faba) is an English heirloom dating to 1863 that produces 5"-6" pods that hold 5-7 large plump beans when mature, but you can shell the early beans for salads and also eat the young leaves. Delicious flavor. Great for freezing or drying for winter consumption (dried beans are buff brown). Favas are also great nitrogen fixers for succeeding crops. 25 seeds.

About Fava Beans: Fava or Broad beans originated in North Africa. They are rich in tyramine, and thus should be avoided by those taking MAOI inhibitors. They contain vicine and convicine, which can induce hemolytic anemia in patients with the hereditary condition glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD). This condition, which is quite common in certain ethnic groups, is called "favism" after the fava bean. But if you are among those who CAN eat favas they have some very special qualities. Favas are rich in L-dopa, a substance used medically in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. L-dopa is also a natriuretic agent, which might help in controlling hypertension. Some also use fava beans as a natural alternative to drugs like Viagra (no kidding) citing a link between L-dopa production and the human libido. (courtesy of Wikipedia).

GROWING TIPS: Favas are best sown in the Fall and wintered over, or sown in very early spring in rich, well-drained soil that is not too acidic (add lime if necessary). All beans and peas are legumes and benefit from "inoculating" with rhizobecteria. These bacteria do the work of taking gaseous nitrogen from the air and "fixing" or concentrating it in pink root nodules which then slough off, adding nitrogen to the soil in a form other plants can take up as a nutrient, so be sure to rotate this crop each year to spread the wealth and don't forget to add the spent plants to your compost heap. Inoculating your beans and peas will increase germination, and the health of your plants, helping them growing large roots and thus healthier plants. Favas do not like heat, so check your calendar and sow accordingly. I overwinter here in North Carolina because sometimes spring can come on very fast and roll right into hot weather by May. You can succession crop this though if planting in spring so that you can a steady supply as long as they produce. [In some areas you can get a second fall crop by reducing plants to 3" after production ceases and keeping weeded and watered.] At 6 weeks, cut off the top 2-3" of the plants to encourage branching and when flowers appear pinch out the tips of each stem to help pods form. This also prevents aphids! You should see beans if spring sown in 12-16 weeks. Be sure to provide support. They are sturdy, but if you have any night creatures visiting your plants you may find breakage without support.

COMPANIONS: I planted a thick row of favas next to my strawberry bed and got the largest, juiciest, BEST crop of strawberries I can ever remember!

CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties! Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.

Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy (and pay for) much more seed than you could ever possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to do so! CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!

All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) OPEN-POLLINATED varieties. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying hybrid seed. Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture and all those other elements that home growers seek.

All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (most of them small farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year. All my seeds are DOUBLE GERMINATION TESTED: First by my growers and then by me. Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh stock, but are not guaranteed as to results (sorry - we wish we could, but there are too many variables in gardening) so please do not ask to return. However, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!

SHIPPING: I endeavor to ship my seeds as quickly as possible - usually within 24 - 48 hours. If there is a need for more time, you will be advised at time of purchase and shipped as soon as possible. In the event an item becomes unavailable or temporarily out of stock I will offer you a chance to substitute another selection or refund you immediately. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. I also combine multiple orders of the same seed variety, where practical, in one envelope unless you request otherwise. This is an ecological measure, not a cost-saving one. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you.