Seeds (Vicia faba)

Foul Harati is the beloved Egyptian fava bean (Vicia faba L.), a legume of the family Fabaceae grown for generations along the Nile. Its plump, creamy beans carry a rich, mild and slightly earthy flavour that makes them the heart of ful medames and countless winter dishes, while the tall, upright plants and white blossoms add a handsome presence to any garden bed.

Planting

In Egypt this is a cool-season winter crop: sow in autumn so the plants grow through the mild winter and mature before the summer heat, which they cannot tolerate above about 27 C. For the Nile Delta and Lower Egypt, aim for sowing around 1 November, with late October also performing well; in warmer Upper Egypt you can start a little earlier, in mid to late October. Sow seed directly in its final position, as the long taproot dislikes transplanting. Set seed about 5 cm deep, spacing seeds 15-23 cm apart in rows about 45 cm apart, or use double rows 23 cm apart with 60 cm between pairs. Seedlings emerge in roughly 7-15 days.

Fertilizing

As a legume, fava bean fixes its own nitrogen with Rhizobium leguminosarum, so inoculate the seed with this bacterium before the first planting in new ground to lift yield and reduce the need for added nitrogen. Where soil phosphorus is low, band phosphorus fertilizer at planting for strong early growth.

Care

Grow in full sun, at least six hours daily, in fertile, well-drained soil. Water especially as flowering begins and again about two weeks later to help pods set. Once the lowest flowers form small pods, pinch out the soft shoot tips to discourage black bean aphid and boost yield, and watch for chocolate spot and rust. Pick pods young, around 7 cm, while the bean's scar stays white or green.