Agora

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, meadow-bright flavor fills the pod with a creamy, tender bite at peak harvest—Agora fava beans are prized for their smooth texture and rich, green-sweet character.

The pods develop with a confident, sturdy presence and hold their quality through the cool-season window, making them ideal for turning into velvety spreads, bright purées, and hearty additions to seasonal dishes. Grow Agora for a garden-to-table harvest that tastes as fresh as it looks—bold, lush, and unmistakably fava.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Upright

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Agora Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Agora favas hit with a clean, green-sweet pop that stays tender rather than getting starchy—so they shine in short-cook applications and spoonable purées. Peel them while they’re young for that silky mouthfeel, then let olive oil, lemon, and herbs sharpen the flavor without dulling it.

Best Uses

peel-and-eat fresh favas with flaky salt and a squeeze of lemon
quick sauté and fold into pasta with browned butter and herbs
velvety purée/spread (or hummus-style) with olive oil and lemon
hearty addition to braises and stews for a soft, creamy legume texture

Flavor Profile

green-sweet, meadow-bright flavor creamy, tender bite when fresh in-shell gentle starchiness that turns silky when puréed lightly earthy finish

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil lemon zest and juice garlic browned butter fresh mint Parmigiano-Reggiano

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Vicia faba (fava/dwarf broad beans), and how do I control it?

Watch for chocolate-brown spots and powdery growth that signal faba bean rust or other foliar fungal issues; these spread quickly in cool, humid weather. Remove affected leaves early, improve airflow by spacing plants in full sun, and avoid overhead watering. If problems persist, use a labeled fungicide for edible legumes and follow the interval on the label.

How often should I water Vicia faba during the main growth phase?

During active vegetative growth and until flowering/early pod set, keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water at the base so the foliage stays dry, and don’t let the soil dry out completely because fava beans can abort flowers and young pods under drought stress.

How can I tell when Vicia faba is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are well-filled but still tender, typically around 55 days after sowing; shell a pod and choose the stage where the beans are smooth, plump, and about their full size. For “tender-shell” use, pick pods earlier before the beans start to look hard or starchy, and for dried beans, leave pods on the plant until they fully dry and rattle.