Legumes
Broad beans
Young pods or shelled beans, depending on when you pick.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Mar–May, Aug
Core months: March, April, May, August
Possible / shoulder months: June, July, September
Temperate
Sow · Mar–Jul
Core months: March, April, May, June, July
Subtropical
Sow · Mar–Jun
Core months: March, April, May, June
Tropical
Sow · Apr–Jun
Core months: April, May, June
Arid
Sow · Apr–Jun
Core months: April, May, June
Possible / shoulder months: March, July
Getting started
Sow directly where plants will grow; thin seedlings to the spacing needed at maturity.
The right conditions
Choose full sun, fertile free-draining soil and reliable moisture.
As it grows
Water through flowering and pod fill; stake or string tall plants in windy sites and watch new tips for aphids.
Ready to harvest
Pick pods young for whole-pod use or later for the shelled beans.
Related how-to guides
Pick peas and beans at the right stage
Check the crop: snow peas are picked flat, shelling peas when peas fill the pod, and green beans while pods are tender before seeds bulge strongly.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.