Vicia faba 'Fava Bean 'Felicity'

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweet and richly flavored, Vicia faba ‘Felicity’ brings a velvety, substantial bite with pods that feel satisfyingly full at harvest.

The seeds develop into creamy, tender interiors prized for their smooth texture—ideal for turning into comforting spreads, showcasing in fresh preparations, or simmering into hearty sauces. Grow ‘Felicity’ for a garden-to-table favorite that rewards patience with a lush, satisfying harvest at about 90 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Vicia faba 'Fava Bean 'Felicity'

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

Fava ‘Felicity’ eats like a custard-meets-bean—tender, softly sweet, and built to turn glossy when you’re kind with heat. For best results, blanch fast (and peel if you can) so the interior stays velvety rather than chalky, then let lemon-fat-herb do the work.

Best Uses

shelled fresh favas briefly blanched and tossed with browned butter and lemon
creamy bean mash/spread with olive oil and herbs (think knife-spread texture)
simmered into a silky stew or thick soup where they melt into the broth
fresh additions to salads only after a quick peel to keep them tender, not starchy

Flavor Profile

sweet, green-bean sweetness creamy, tender interior velvety mouthfeel with a faintly nutty finish light vegetal sweetness that plays well with fat and salt

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil browned butter garlic mint Parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Vicia faba (fava beans), and how can I control it?

Black aphids often attack Vicia faba, especially in cool-to-mild weather, causing distorted new growth and sticky honeydew. Spray affected plants with a strong jet of water first, then use insecticidal soap (especially undersides) and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth is clean. If you see leaf spotting that spreads under humid conditions, remove badly affected leaves and improve airflow around plants to slow further spread.

How often should I water Vicia faba during its main growing phase?

During pod development (roughly after flowering), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for watering about 1–2 times per week, depending on rainfall and heat. Water deeply to reach the root zone and let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry slightly between waterings. Avoid letting plants dry out completely, because drought stress can reduce pod fill and lead to abortion of flowers or young pods.

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

Harvest for green shelling beans when pods are well-filled and the beans inside are tender and still glossy, typically around the 90-day mark. If you press a bean through the pod, it should dent easily rather than feel hard. For dry beans, leave pods on the plant longer until foliage yellows and pods rattle when shaken, then thresh once pods are fully dry.