Fava varieties

[ottawagardener]

I saw a couple fava types that I have never seen before:

Black Russian and Martoc.

Now, I'm planning on growing them for the first time this year so are these varieties good for edible greens at all, frost tolerance, interplanting?

Thanks

[spacecase0]

I found a small black fava at one point and they said it was not frost tolerant,
past that I know nothing

[MikeH]

Jan 10, 2012 8:27:03 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

I saw a couple fava types that I have never seen before:

Black Russian and Martoc.

Now, I'm planning on growing them for the first time this year so are these varieties good for edible greens at all, frost tolerance, interplanting?

Thanks

Sounds like Heritage Harvest Seed. After terrible results last year - I think that I planted too late - I'm having another go this year with HH's Crimson Flowered.

You gonna let 'em cross or keep a few isolated for seed?

Regards,
Mike

[stevil]

Jan 10, 2012 8:27:03 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

I saw a couple fava types that I have never seen before:

Black Russian and Martoc.

Now, I'm planning on growing them for the first time this year so are these varieties good for edible greens at all, frost tolerance, interplanting?

Thanks

I presume the flowers are black?
Martoc is probably Martock Bean, a very old UK Heritage bean from the place of the same name - www.martockhistory.co.uk/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:the-martock-bean-&catid=1:martock-general&Itemid=9

I grew it for a number of years in the 90s until it crossed itself out of existence - small roundish beans, a bit larger than Tic Beans

[ottawagardener]

Hmmm...
Black Russian has black beans beyond that I don't know. It's from Heritage Harvest Seed yes. Still waffling on which to buy. I would really like one with descent greens and frost tolerance. Suggestions?

[12540dumont]

Frost tolerant and yummy. This is part of my fava bean grex. These were planted in November and I'm harvesting now.

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[bluelacedredhead]

I saw Fava beans mentioned as an Edible Ornamental Container plant in a library book. I mentioned it to Flowerpower and that began a search for a bean with attractive flowers yet cold hardy enough for her Zone 4 growing season.

These are some of the ones we looked at.

Considering that Crocus often emerge here when snow is still on the ground, the following fava must be cold hardy.

www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/7305/Bean-Broad-Fava-Windsor-Heirloom-Seed/category:vegetables/filter

We also talked about this one from Sandhill Preservation

Aquadulce Fava: 65 days. Long pods, big brown seeds. Must be planted in cool weather to do well

and this one

Bell Fava: 75 days. Unusual, small seeded type. Grows well in Pacific Northwest where it survives winters. Small, dark reddish/brown seeds resemble peanuts. Good cool weather crop, high yields. 1 oz. Pkt. - 1 Pkt./$1.25; 4 Pkts./$4.50

Oh yeah, you'll have to ask FP what she ended up ordering. I can't remember.

[oxbowfarm]

I got some favas from traab who got them from Toad called Norka. They are smallish and black and look something like the pic of Black Russian and they are a Volga-Deutsch heirloom so they might be the same variety. I planted 90% of the seed March 30th and they are up and doing well. Just made it through a smallish snow storm last week and then three nights of 19°F/-7°C uncovered and unscathed so they seem to be reasonably frost hardy as seedlings. I'm not sure how they compare to other favas in this respect. Carol Deppe's Hannan Chickpeas also made it through fine, they are a first for me also. If the Norka sets seed you can have some if you want Telsing.

[flowerpower]

I bought the Aqua Dulce. This is the first time I am growing Fava. I guess I better get some planted. Good to know they lived through that small snow.

Oxbow, check with Canada Mike about cold tolerant chickpeas. He might have some seed.

[ottawagardener]

Thanks oxbow farm! I have a variety of chickpeas that I have been growing out all mixed up style if you want a small sampling. Just pm me so I don't forget.

[robertb]

Martock is an old UK variety, as has been said; it may well be medieval. I haven't grown it - I'm planning to add it to my mix - but it's said to have lots of small beans, and to be very tough. I haven't come across the Black Russian one; where can you get it?

[12540dumont]

Favas are on! I've harvested for 4 weeks now, so I'm going to stop watering this patch and let them dry down for seed. It was a great year for favas. We planted in two batches, one in November and one in January. I've picked from the November field, which will be tilled under any day now. This is the January field.

This field will become melons. I think the potatoes next to the favas will be ready by June 1.

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[MikeH]

Crimson Flowered Favas in flower. The picture doesn't do the colour justice.

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[ottawagardener]

I'm growing that one too this year MikeH. It is pretty. What with the lower than normal rainfall, I'm wondering if it is usually taller. How tall is yours?

[MikeH]

Not that tall. Maybe 12 inches. If all those flowers produce pods and the plants don't get much taller, it's going to get very crowded.