Sweet Lorane

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

Sweet Lorane brings a lush, garden-fresh sweetness with tender, creamy beans that feel silky on the palate.

At maturity, the pods hold a satisfying, meaty texture and the seeds develop a bright, mellow flavor that shines in simple preparations—ideal for fresh shelling and for turning into smooth, spoonable spreads and hearty purées. Grow this 90-day favorite for a reliable harvest and a distinctly sweet, refined bite.

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)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Sweet Lorane favas lean sweet and creamy, with beans that turn smooth rather than grainy—so they’re made for buttery sautés and silky purées. Keep the prep simple: lemon and fat bring the sweetness up, while mint and garlic sharpen the finish.

Best Uses

fresh shelling and quick sauté with butter and herbs
warm pureé for a spoonable dip (finish with olive oil and lemon)
chunky, spoon-thick salad with a mustardy vinaigrette
slow-cooked bean purée or stew base for extra body

Flavor Profile

sweet, garden-fresh snap tender, creamy bean texture bright, mellow finish with a faint nutty edge silky mouthfeel when pureed

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil butter garlic mint parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Vicia faba (broad beans) like Sweet Lorane, and how can I manage it?

Watch for chocolate-brown leaf spots and stem lesions caused by faba bean diseases (often favored by cool, wet weather). Remove and discard heavily spotted leaves, water at the base to keep foliage dry, and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t stay wet. If powdery mildew appears, spray with a potassium bicarbonate or horticultural sulfur product labeled for beans and reapply as directed after humid periods.

How often should I water Vicia faba during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During pod formation and filling (roughly mid-season through about 60–90 days), keep soil consistently evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week depending on rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than frequent light sprinkling, and check that the top 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) of soil don’t dry out completely between waterings.

How do I tell when Sweet Lorane broad beans are ready to harvest (Vicia faba)?

Harvest when pods are well filled but still tender: beans should be visibly plump inside the pod and the pod walls should feel firm rather than papery. For “fresh shell” broad beans, pick after pods are fully formed and the seeds are at peak size (often around 90 days), ideally harvesting every 2–3 days as they mature quickly. If you want them for shelling with more mature beans, leave some pods longer until beans look large and the pod feels fuller but still not dried.