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Post by coppice on Jan 27, 2011 6:15:35 GMT -5
I'm a creature of habbit, and have never felt a need to grow much in the way of a shelled bean. As a callow youth the closest I probably got were one grandparents fondness for black eyed peas.
Last night at chat Sorellina started to bubble up with enthusiasm regarding fava beans. Perhaps she would spread out for us a breif outline of horticultural practice, and more of what the 'wow' was of this shelled bean.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2011 7:09:39 GMT -5
I have tried to grow them here in zone 6 TN. They are the very best trap crop for aphids I ever saw!
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Post by coppice on Jan 27, 2011 7:34:25 GMT -5
There is a quiet porch rocking-chair nostalgia I will credit to shelling beans. It leads to conversation between generations that too often is passed over by wide-screen one eyed brain suckers (tv) or texting zombies.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 27, 2011 9:40:42 GMT -5
Good for helping those who are trying to quit smoking I understand. Contains a substance that promotes the production of serotonin which smoking destroys. I never used Fava beans to quit but 8 years after quitting, I finally threw out the can of Fava beans that I bought "just in case" I needed them...
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Post by sorellina on Jan 28, 2011 10:23:44 GMT -5
Ciao all-
My family has always grown favas and they do very well in California to bracket the main season. They should be started just as soon as the ground can be worked, which goes against most bean-growing practices. Even if there's a freeze after planting, they'll just slow down. If they come up and there's a freeze forecasted, cover with a quick row cover and they'll do just fine. They take a while to germinate, usually a couple weeks.
Keith's been teaching me a bit about "day length" and favas really do seem to have this sensitivity. That's why you want to start them so early. Once the days really stretch out, they won't do well and blossoms won't set in warm temperatures either.
I'm not sure of the exact variety my family grows (and they probably wouldn't be able to tell me, either. My Uncle Charlie saves his seeds in espresso cans without labels). I have Aquadulce that I've grown here in Toronto with good results. It is true that they do attract aphids and ants will "mine" them, so I go out proactively and spritz the plants with insecticidal soap which helps. Sowing early will diminish that problem as well because aphids aren't in high numbers until later in the season. I have a harder time with aphids on the tea roses than the favas.
I'm going to try acquiring a really pretty fava variety called Crimson-Flowered. If I do, I'll try to grow out all of the seeds so I can share with interested gardeners next winter.
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