There’s something so satisfying about growing a whole row or raised bed of fava beans. You could say that they are my fava-rite. They add nitrogen to the soil as they grow, are pretty low-maintenance overall, and are delicious whether you eat them fresh or dried. Not only that, but every quarter cup you grow adds 13g of protein to your plate.
It’s because of this that fava beans are a regenerative permaculture gardener’s dream - they are a fantastic crop to grow if you’re working towards self-sufficiency.
You can see why fava beans are one of the first cultivated crops in human civilization. We’ve been growing them for over 10,000 years! With their origins in Israel and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) region, in pre-columbian times, fava beans were likely the only bean known in Europe.
So when you save fava bean seeds, you’re connecting to the history of agriculture, taking a step towards self-sufficiency, and regenerating your garden at the same time.
I’ve been saving fava bean seeds for a few years now, and am working towards growing my own landrace varieties.
In this article, I’ll explain in detail the step-by-step practices to collect fava bean seeds in a way that supports your garden and your family. Here’s what I’ve learned and why you should add this practice to your gardening skillset!
Fava beans are a delight to collect and save due to their inherent nature to dry perfectly right on the plant.
Inside fully dried pods lie the seeds for next year’s plants, in perfect form.
In my garden, fall-planted fava beans tend to be fully dried around July.
Early spring sown plants are usually dry by the end of August.
My late-planted beans, sown in June, will be dry for harvest in September and October.
It’s a good idea to collect your seeds during a time when there has been no water in contact with the pods - either from rain or overhead watering.
A few days of bright warm sun will help your seeds to dry properly until it’s time to plant them next season. Wet seeds can become moldy or inviable during storage.
To save seeds, I carry a paper envelope around the garden with me. When I find a plant that has characteristics that I like, I open the crunchy pods to collect the seeds that are inside.
It's like a treasure hunt, searching for those perfect, crunchy pods.
Then, I label the envelope with the species name, what characteristics the plant presented, and where in my garden it was grown. I also note if the beans were planted in the fall, early spring, or late spring.
As you place each magic bean into the envelope, they become like time capsules, holding within them the promise of next season's bounty. Label them meticulously, like a botanist cataloging a rare find.
Tip: I prefer paper envelopes over plastic bags for storage. Not only do I want to reduce my plastic consumption, but also baggies tend to build up condensation and can ruin the seeds.
Note that larger seeds tend to be more viable and create strong plants.
You can test if the seeds are viable before storage by planting them in a six-cell tray with one seed per cell. Grow them inside, keeping the soil moist and keeping them under a grow light. If they are viable, they should germinate within a week.
Write down the germination rate on your envelope so that you know how many to plant next year. For example, if half of the seeds germinated, then you’d want to sow two seeds per hole in the garden next season.
Pro Tip: The folks at Going to Seed recommend placing your fava seeds in the freezer for three days to kill off any weevils or weevil eggs that my be lingering on your seeds. This will help prevent your seeds from getting eaten during storage.
Seed saving not only saves you money, but it can also help you save the planet and move towards a more resilient future.
Key points:
Landrace seeds are a diverse and dynamic population of cross-bred seeds. In a landrace garden, different cultivars intermingle and naturally cross-pollinate.
For example, Columbian Purple Fava Beans may be planted next to pretty pink Karmazyn and Red Epicure. You would then save seeds from all of these species as though they were one variety. You’d plant them together next year, and continue to select seeds that match your criteria, preferred planting season, and environment.
Ideally, you’d want to have a very diverse mix of fava beans - the more, the merrier.
Landrace seeds help prevent inbreeding and genetic depression. This in turn creates future generations of plants that are more adaptable to local conditions. What’s more, is that these seeds have more diverse characteristics than a single variety. If you have an exceptionally hot, rainy, or cold growing season, it’s more likely that your plants will survive as opposed to a total crop failure.
Fava beans lend themselves very well to landrace seed practices. In fact, you can buy diverse gene pools pretty easily, so that you have a wide selection of seeds to start out with as opposed to buying a dozen different varieties and starting from scratch. (although, I like to start from scratch with some and mix in first generation or beyond seeds to lean the gene pool towards my favorite cultivars).
Here’s where you can get landrace populations of fava beans:
Participate in landrace seed exchanges:
Nerd out: Learn more about growing Landrace Seeds - read this article by the master, Joseph Lofthouse, or buy his book for more details.
Saving fava beans is a rewarding endeavor that supports your access to food sovereignty and biodiverse populations that are resilient to climate change extremes.
I remember the first time I successfully saved seeds—it felt like a small victory. Watching those tiny seeds turn into thriving plants the next season was incredibly fulfilling. My mother, grandfather, and great-grandfather - and likely many before them - used to do the same, and it feels like I'm continuing their legacy.
Don’t be intimidated by the process! Start small, learn from your experiences, and gradually build your seed-saving skills. The benefits are worth the effort, and you’ll be contributing to a more sustainable gardening practice.
