Aquadulce

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

Sweet, buttery fava flavor blooms with a tender, creamy bite—Aquadulce is prized for pods that fill out with confidence and hold their quality through the season.

At maturity, the beans develop a smooth, velvety texture that’s especially inviting for fresh harvest use, as well as for rich, spoonable preparations like purées and hearty spreads. Grow Aquadulce for a dependable 90-day rhythm and a garden-to-plate experience that feels both lush and rewarding.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Aquadulce favas lean sweet and buttery, with a smooth, plush texture that stays spoon-worthy rather than turning dry or gritty. They’re made for fast heat or blitzed purées—bright acids and grassy herbs (like lemon and mint) keep the flavor lively while the beans go luxuriously creamy.

Best Uses

pod-and-bean searing quickly, then finishing with salt and lemon
blitzed fava purée for a spoonable smear under lamb or grilled fish
thick, hearty mashes and spreads—sturdy enough to stand in a bowl
warm salads where the beans stay creamy, not grainy

Flavor Profile

sweet, buttery snap creamy, velvety interior gentle green-bean brightness tender bite that turns plush with heat

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil garlic mint pecorino romano chicken or lamb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Aquadulce fava beans developing yellow, sticky leaves and black sooty mold—how do I control aphids?

Aphids on fava beans commonly leave behind sticky honeydew, which then supports black sooty mold. Spray affected plants with a strong jet of water, then apply insecticidal soap (especially the underside of leaves) and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth is clean. If infestations are heavy, remove the most affected tips to reduce aphid buildup.

How often should I water Aquadulce fava beans during their main growing phase?

During active growth and before pods fill, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—typically about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for your rainfall and heat. Check the top 2–3 inches of soil: if it feels dry at that depth, water deeply; if it stays damp, wait. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely when plants are flowering and setting pods, as this can reduce pod formation.

When are Aquadulce fava beans ready to harvest?

Harvest green pods when they’re firm and the beans inside are well-formed but still tender, usually around 75–90 days after sowing. For shelling, pick pods when seeds are about the size of a fingernail and the pod is still bright green; for dry beans, leave pods on the plant until they turn brown and rattle. Taste-test one pod—if beans are creamy-tender rather than starchy-hard, it’s ready to pick.