When to Plant Broad Beans in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Also called fava beans, faba beans.

Out of season. Next window opens in March Soil 18.3°C, best 6–24°C

Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Sydney), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like in Warm Temperate

In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.

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  1. Planting calendar
  2. How to grow
  3. Local tips and varieties
  4. Pests and problems
  5. Harvesting
  6. Storing and preserving
  7. Other zones and related crops
  8. Common questions

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This Broad Beans guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Planting window
Mar to Jul
Days to harvest
about 13 weeks
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
Moderate
Spacing
25 cm apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.5

Broad beans are a cool-season legume and one of the few crops that thrive in winter across most of Australia. They fix atmospheric nitrogen, improve soil fertility, and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

Broad Beans

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Planting Calendar for Warm Temperate

  • Jan -
  • Feb -
  • Mar S/T/D
  • Apr S/T/D
  • May S/T/D
  • Jun S/T/D
  • Jul S/T/D
  • Aug -
  • Sep -
  • Oct -
  • Nov -
  • Dec -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is sowing time?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Warm Temperate zone right now, Broad Beans included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

How to Grow Broad Beans in Warm Temperate Australia

Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Tolerates heavier soils than common beans. Enriched with compost but not fresh manure.
Salt
Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun to light shade (minimum 5 hours). Tolerates partial shade better than most beans.
Spacing
25cm apart, 75cm between rows
Watering
Moderate water needs. Water during dry spells in winter. Increase watering during flowering and pod fill. Avoid waterlogging. Less thirsty than common beans.
Good companions
Sweet Corn (following season), Lettuce, Dill, Spinach, Potato
Keep away from
Fennel, Tree Onion
Grow before it
Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Grow after it
Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)

Give the bed 3 turns before legumes go back in. Beans and peas fix nitrogen, so they leave the bed richer than they found it.

Members see the exact salt threshold, how much harvest it loses as salt rises, and what to grow instead. See what members get

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Broad Beans

Recommended Varieties

  • Aquadulce
  • Coles Dwarf
  • Crimson Flowered
  • Exhibition Long Pod

Key Challenges

  • Chocolate spot in wet winters
  • Aphids in spring
  • Frost damage to flowers in severe winters

Pro Tips

  • Broad beans are a core winter crop for Sydney and similar climates
  • Double rows 20cm apart provide mutual wind support
  • Pinch out tips religiously when top flowers appear

Pests and problems for Broad Beans in Warm Temperate

Members see each pest score and pest risk alerts for your area. See what members get

Browse the full pest library →

Harvesting Broad Beans

When ready: Pods are plump, 15-20cm long, and beans inside are visible as bumps. For fresh eating, harvest when beans inside are bright green and about thumb-nail sized. For drying, leave pods on plant until completely brown and dry.

How to harvest: Snap or cut pods from stem. Start harvesting from the bottom of the plant (earliest pods). For fresh eating, pick regularly to encourage continued production. Inner skin of individual beans can be removed after blanching for best texture.

Storing and preserving broad beans

How to keep it
  • Freezing (Double-peeled). Shell beans from pods. Blanch shelled beans in boiling water for 2 minutes. Ice bath. Slip off inner grey skin by pinching (optional but improves texture and colour dramatically). Spread on tray to flash-freeze, then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
  • Drying. Leave pods on plant until brown and dry. Shell beans and spread on trays in well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks until completely hard. Store in airtight jars. Soak overnight and cook as needed. Keeps: 12+ months.
  • Broad Bean Falafel (Freeze). Soak dried broad beans overnight. Process with garlic, cumin, coriander, parsley, salt and flour. Form patties, flash-freeze on tray, then bag. Fry from frozen. Keeps: 6 months frozen.

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What members get

  • Soil and weather from your nearest station
  • An email when it's time to sow
  • Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
  • Price history and price alerts
  • Pest risk alerts for your area
  • Full salt and canning detail

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Common Questions About Broad Beans

When do you plant broad beans in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Can you grow broad beans all year round in Sydney?

No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Mar to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is broad beans called?

Broad beans is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it fava beans, faba beans. Same plant, same growing advice.

When should I plant Broad Beans in Sydney?

Sow March-July. Earlier sowings (March-April) establish well before winter cold. Can sow as late as July for a spring harvest.

What soil temperature do Broad Beans need?

Broad Beans germinate best when soil temperature is between 6°C and 24°C.

How do I know when Broad Beans are ready to harvest?

Pods are plump, 15-20cm long, and beans inside are visible as bumps. For fresh eating, harvest when beans inside are bright green and about thumb-nail sized. For drying, leave pods on plant until completely brown and dry.

What are the best Broad Beans varieties for Sydney?

Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Aquadulce, Coles Dwarf, Crimson Flowered, Exhibition Long Pod.

What grows well with Broad Beans?

Good companion plants for Broad Beans include: Sweet Corn, Lettuce, Dill, Spinach, Potato.

Are broad beans salt tolerant?

Only a little. Broad beans are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.