10 Broad Bean Varieties Selected For Taste, Productiveness And Hardiness
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
Broad Beans are not only widely-grown and consumed around the world, they are among the easiest vegetables to grow in home veg gardens – they do not even need regular watering let alone fertilising.
Underneath we present an initial five varieties that are selected for taste, productivity, and easy sowing and growing in spring:
1) V. faba ‘The Sutton’
An Old-English dwarf variety, ‘The Sutton’ is one of the best varieties on several counts for hobbyist gardeners.
As the plants grow to only about 40cm with a similar spread, they need less space than other varieties, as Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly explains:
“The short stature of this broad bean makes it ideal for growing on a windy site.
“Whilst taller cultivars may be vulnerable to wind damage, ‘The Sutton’ can be grown without staking.
“Its small size also makes it the perfect option for a small garden.”
Yet they are very productive and their numerous pods are 12-14cm in length with each having typically six tasty beans.
It even bears among the most fragrant and prettiest flowers of all Broad Beans.
Recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.1Vicia faba “The Suttons.” (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/107295/vicia-faba-the-sutton/details
2) V. faba ‘Monica’
Three huge draws make this variety well worth growing.
From a spring sowing it is possibly the fastest to producing pods; at least it is one of the fastest – and it is also very productive.
Finally, it is ideally-suited to spring and summer sowing; pods have 5-6 fat, juicy beans.
Young beans are especially tender and well-suited for adding uncooked to salads and such.
3) V. faba ‘Witkiem’
This variety is one of the hardiest ones and tolerates freezing conditions so it is perfect for sowing as early as February to be rewarded with fresh beans in spring.2Vicia faba “Witkiem” – Manita. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/142926/vicia-faba-witkiem-manita/details
It is a productive variety as well.
Each of its rather short, chunky pods contain, usually, five white beans which are more plump than most and also tasty.
Recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.
4) V. faba ‘Eleonora’
This is a spanking new variety and an excellent one – it is fairly fast-growing.
The plants are on the short side and are sturdier and more erect than most which makes them well suited for windswept locations.
Each pod has about five biggish white beans, which are remarkably flavourful.
This variety also stores well and can be home-frozen for winter.
5) V. faba ‘Bunyards Exhibition’
That this heritage variety is still with us after being developed in the Victorian times is a tribute to its merits.
It is especially fuss-free to grow and is sought-after in kitchens that need the finest-quality Broad Beans, known to be sweetish.
Each pod has 6-7 beans. The plants are tall, growing up to 1.2m.
Underneath we present a further five varieties; these are primarily selected for hardiness and for a couple of different and distinctive attractions.
6) V. faba ‘Super Aquadulce’
If you live in a cold region and/or want to sow seeds outdoors in autumn or in February, this heritage variety ought to be your top choice.
It is possibly the hardiest Broad Bean – besides being hardy it is also very productive.
The plant is on the tall side and can grow to about 1m.
7) V. faba ‘Aquadulce Claudia’
Another very hardy variety and related to the preceding one, it is ideal for cold regions.
Like its sibling variety it bears pods about 25cm long with each one containing about 6 beans.
The beans are tastier than most.
The plant is quite tall, growing from 1-1.5m.
Recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.
8) V. faba ‘Meteor’
Though not a great variety for the best-tasting mature beans, it is probably the quickest to produce pods from a spring sowing (hence the name).
It is also comparatively hardy so it can be sown in March and in autumn as well.
As for the quality, if pods are harvested early and the beans are eaten young, then they are tender and tasty.
Another recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.
9) V. faba ‘Masterpiece Green Longpod’
Can’t be beaten for the length of the ‘longpod’ or the number of beans as each pod is usually packed with 6, sometimes 7, green beans.
The pods are long but thin so the beans too are thin but are tender.
A great choice for home-freezing Broad Beans to have in the dark days of winter.
RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.
10) V. faba ‘Crimson Flowered’
To go all in on the ornamental value of the flower you could opt for this heritage variety.
The blossoms are a deep magenta-crimson that add splashes of intense colour to a veg garden – or any garden.
The beans are just as good as any variety, though, so no worries there.
This is a tallish variety that will grow over 90cm and can approach a full 1m.
