Windsor Fava Bean

‘Windsor’ is a traditional English fava bean prized for its very large, light green beans and pleasantly sweet, pea-like flavor. A dependable cool-season crop, it makes an excellent alternative to lima beans in northern gardens where summer heat can be a challenge.

Sow ‘Windsor’ directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep and space plants 4 to 6 inches apart in full sun. Bushy plants reach about 2 to 3 feet tall and may benefit from light support as the pods develop.

Ready to harvest in about 80 days, ‘Windsor’ produces glossy green pods about 6 to 7 inches long, typically containing 3 to 6 large beans. Pick the pods young at about 2 to 3 inches for use as snap beans, or allow them to mature fully for shelling.

Sweet, tender, and versatile, ‘Windsor’ is excellent as a fresh shell bean and can be prepared much like lima beans. Its mild, pea-like flavor makes it a useful addition to soups, side dishes, and other cool-season meals.