When to plant fava beans in Olympia, WA

Plant fava beans from seed, directly in the garden in Olympia, Mar 18 – Apr 22.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. 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.

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

Step by step

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds Mar 18 – Apr 22, 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.

Varieties that do well here

Broad Windsor
Aquadulce Claudia (for fall sowing)
Vroma

Watch out for

Black aphids gather on the growing tips in late spring. Pinch off the tips once pods start forming.

Unlike other beans, favas love cool weather. West of the Cascades they can also be sown in October to overwinter for an early crop.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Olympia, WA?

Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.

Is it too late to plant fava beans in Olympia?

The spring planting window runs through April 22. 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.

Also plant in Olympia around the same time

Planting dates for fava beans in nearby areas

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
Eugene, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Roseburg, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5

Full planting calendar for Olympia · Fava beans in every city