Vetches is a general term referring to many plants belonging to the legume or bean family. Many are used as ground covers (Crown vetch) or as a green manure crop to improve the soil (Hairy vetch).Hairy vetch, a true Vetch in the Vicia genus, is often sown in the fall and plowed under the following spring. The plant is an annual and will die out.

which isn’t the best thing on banks. Plants don’t respond to close mowings.As an interesting side note, the FAVA or FABA bean, made famous by the movie The Silence of the Lambs, is really a vetch, instead of a type of garden bean.

Crown Vetch

Crown vetch, is not a true vetch, though it is a legume. It was or is commonly used by transportation departments to control erosion on banks and interchanges. Crown vetch is drought and cold hardy, disease resistant and seems to grow on the worst possible soils. However, this pink flowering perennial plant tends to become weedy, and allows a perfect habitat for burrowing animals, which isn’t the best thing on banks. Plants don’t respond to close mowings.

Seeds should be sown at the rate of 1/2 to 3/4 pounds per 1000 square feet.

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Hairy vetch is used as a winter cover crop to improve the soil’s structure and nitrogen content when tilled in or turned over in the spring.The plant is an annual and will die out. It is considered extremely winter hardy.Hairy vetch is often sown as seed in late July through August. Plants will germinate and develop shoots and root through the fall. Vetch will go dormant during the winter months; a severe winter with below 0 degrees F. may kill the plants, limiting the need for burn down in the spring.

Plants surviving the winter can be rotortilled or plowed in the spring. Dense populations can be knocked down with an application of 2,4-D; hairy vetch is quite sensitive to herbicide applications.

Vetch may flower and produce seed that will germinate. Cultivation or spot treatment with 2,4-D can control the problem. Make sure to read and follow all labeled directions when using a pesticide.

Hairy vetch is NOT the same as crown vetch, though both are legumes and will improve the soil fertility.

Seeding Rates

Sow seeds at the rate of 1/2 to 3/4 pounds per 1000 square feet.

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The Fava or Faba bean is a member of the Vicia genus which includes most of the vetches. While a legume, it is a distant cousin to the garden snap bean. Other common terms include Broad Bean, Horse Bean, English Bean, and Windsor Bean.Fava beans are shelled like lima beans. However, the skin is tough and shelling is time consuming. Bean seeds are generally a bright green though they may be tinged with red, purple or brown. Unlike lima beans, they aren’t starchy tasting. And surprising, they do go well with a good Chianti.

The Fava bean plant is sown in the fall and pods harvested the following spring and summer. Shell immediately and store beans in the refrigerator for no more than a couple of days. Beans may be frozen. Like lima beans, small young pods produce a better tasting bean, though mature large pods can be harvested and beans dried.

To prepare, cut ends from the pods, open and pop out bean. Drop into boiling water for half a minute, drain and plunge into ice water. Slip skins off individual seeds.

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