Broad Beans Aquadulce Seed

Grow an early, tall cool-season broad bean with long pods containing large, flat pale beans for fresh shelling or a properly prepared mature-dry harvest.

Grow Guide: How to grow Aquadulce broad beans in South Africa.

Quick Grow Facts

• Plant Type: Cool-season broad/fava bean; exact stocked name Aquadulce
• Scientific Name: Vicia faba
• Seed Form: Raw seed; this sale form is not proof that a lot is chemically untreated, so follow the physical packet warning
• South African Sowing Time: Autumn to winter for winter and early-spring growth; sow before soil becomes warm
• Position: Full sun in a sheltered, well-drained bed
• Sow Depth: 20 mm on the exact current packet
• Light: Cover the seed; light is not required until emergence
• Temperature: 15–20°C
• Pretreatment: None required; pre-water the bed rather than soaking seed
• Spacing: 30 × 50 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days
• Growth Form: Tall upright broad bean; run support string between stakes around the block before pods become heavy
• Days to Harvest: 90–100 days on the current packet
• Outcome: Long pods with large, flat pale beans for fresh shelling; selected fully mature sound pods may be dried for storage and thorough cooking

Why Grow This Variety

• Aquadulce provides a productive podded crop for the cool season.
• The long pods hold large beans with a rich flavour and creamy texture after cooking.
• Fresh and mature-dry harvest stages extend its kitchen use.

Garden Uses

Shell full green pods and cook the fresh broad beans for soups, stews, salads and side dishes. For dry beans, leave selected healthy pods to mature fully and follow the safety directions below.

Growing Notes and Food Safety

• Direct sow in the cool season. Heat during flowering can reduce pod set.
• Keep soil evenly moist but well drained, support plants against wind and inspect soft tips for aphids.
• Raw or undercooked mature beans can contain harmful lectins. Soak mature dry beans for at least five hours, discard the water, then boil vigorously in fresh water for at least 30 minutes; do not rely on a low-temperature slow cooker alone.
• Fava/broad beans can trigger severe haemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency. People who know or suspect they have this condition should obtain medical advice and avoid exposure as directed by their clinician.
• Never eat packet seed or use it for sprouts or microgreens. Use only food-crop controls registered for broad beans and observe withholding periods.

Brought to you by Ubuntuberg Seeds, where our mission is to cultivate humanity & harvest unity. Ubuntuberg Seeds: the highest quality seed stock in all of Southern Africa, sourced from sustainable farms, guaranteeing you the best quality seed stock.