Rainline Garden
When to plant fava beans in Centralia and Chehalis, WA
Plant fava beans from seed, directly in the garden in Centralia and Chehalis, Mar 11 – Apr 15.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 6 inches apart
- Planting depth
- 1 to 2 inches deep
- Frost
- Handles light frost
- First harvest
- About 85 days after planting
Why these dates
Centralia and Chehalis's typical last spring frost is April 22. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.
West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.
How to grow fava beans in Centralia and Chehalis
- Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
- Plant seeds Mar 11 – Apr 15, 1 to 2 inches deep, 6 inches apart.
- Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
- Harvest: Pick pods when they bulge with beans but are still green. Shell the beans and slip off the pale skins for the sweetest flavor.
Key numbers
- 40–75°FSoil to sprout
- 6.0–7.0Soil pH
- October, west sideFall sowing
- Black aphidsBiggest risk
Growing notes
What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.
A bean that likes cool weather
Unlike common beans, favas sprout in cool soil and grow best in mild weather, which suits Northwest springs perfectly. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in late winter or early spring. Hot weather makes them stop flowering, so early sowing is the key to a good crop.
West of the Cascades, you can also sow hardy varieties like Aquadulce Claudia in October. They grow a little, sit through winter and take off early, giving the earliest harvest. In cold eastern areas, stick to spring sowing.
Soil and feeding
Favas aren't fussy. Any reasonably drained soil works, and like other beans they fix their own nitrogen, so skip the fertilizer. They're also grown as a cover crop for this reason: chopping the plants into the soil before they set seed adds organic matter and nitrogen.
Tall varieties can flop in wind and heavy rain. A string run along each side of the row, tied to stakes, keeps them upright.
Aphids and chocolate spot
Black bean aphids crowd onto the soft growing tips in late spring. Pinching off the top few inches once the lowest pods form removes most of them and pushes the plant's energy into the pods. The tips are tasty cooked like spinach.
Chocolate spot is a fungus that causes small brown spots on leaves during long wet spells. It's rarely serious on well-spaced plants in sun. Give rows room for airflow and don't crowd fall plantings.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Centralia and Chehalis, WA?
Typically April 22. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Centralia.
Is it too late to plant fava beans in Centralia and Chehalis?
The spring planting window runs through April 15. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.
How long until I can harvest fava beans?
About 85 days after planting. Pick pods when they bulge with beans but are still green. Shell the beans and slip off the pale skins for the sweetest flavor.
Can you plant fava beans in the fall?
Yes, west of the Cascades. Sow hardy types like Aquadulce Claudia in October for an early harvest the next spring. Very cold snaps can still damage them, so east of the mountains spring sowing is safer.
Do I have to peel fava beans?
Young, small beans can be eaten with their skins. Larger beans have a tough pale skin, so blanch them for a minute, cool them, and pinch the bright green bean out. It's extra work but makes them much sweeter.
Are fava beans safe for everyone?
Most people eat them without trouble. People with an inherited condition called G6PD deficiency can have a serious reaction to eating favas, and sometimes even to the pollen. If you or your family have that condition, skip this crop.
Also plant in Centralia and Chehalis around the same time
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Onions
Carrots
Beets
KalePlanting dates for fava beans in nearby areas
- Vancouver, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
- Longview and Kelso, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
- Portland, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
- Gresham, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
- Wilsonville and Canby, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
- Salem, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Full planting calendar for Centralia and Chehalis · Fava beans in every city