Great reminder: beans are so good for us!
In areas with mild winters, fava beans are a great cold-weather crop. Sown in the fall, they can grow all winter to produce very early in spring, when not much else is coming out of the garden. They're hardy to about 15F, or -10C, and grew reliably for me as a winter crop in zone 8. They'll even germinate near freezing (most beans need warm soil), so they're forgiving if you put off planting a bit too late in the fall.
