Bell Beans - Raw Seed (lb)

Bell Beans are the large-seeded, upright workhorses of many cool-season soil-building mixtures. Vicia faba develops sturdy stems, abundant leaves, and a strong root system, producing substantial green material while forming nitrogen-fixing nodules below ground. The plants flower earlier than many winter annual cover crops, adding black-and-white blossoms that attract bees and other beneficial insects.

Grow Bell Beans alone for a robust legume stand or combine them with field peas, vetches, and oats. In a mixture, the different plant forms fill complementary roles: oats provide quick fibrous roots, vetches cover the ground, and Bell Beans contribute height, larger roots, and coarse biomass. They are adaptable across many cool-season plantings and are also used in forage or silage mixtures with suitable companion crops.

Plant in early to midfall so seedlings can establish before winter. This is raw seed and should be inoculated immediately before planting to support effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation. For green manure, mow or incorporate while stems remain tender and before mature seed develops. Waiting longer increases total biomass but also creates thicker residue that takes more effort and time to break down. Actual nitrogen contribution depends on inoculation, plant growth, soil fertility, moisture, and termination timing.

• Scientific Name: Vicia faba
• Growth Cycle: Vigorous cool-season annual legume
• Application Rate: 2–4 lb per 1,000 sq ft or 80–125 lb per acre
• Inoculant: Strongly recommended for effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Use Pea Vetch Lentil Inoculant (treats 100 lb), Garden Combination Mix Inoculant (treats 8 lb), or Garden Combination Mix Inoculant (treats 50 lb). Choose the package size that matches the amount of seed being planted, and plant promptly after treating the seed.
• Germination: Approximately 5–10 days under suitable conditions
• Plant Height: Approximately 3–6 feet
• General Maturity: March through May, depending on climate and planting time
• Uses: Nitrogen fixation, green manure, soil-building mixtures, beneficial-insect habitat, forage, and silage
• Management: Terminate before mature seed develops and while stems are still practical to mow or incorporate