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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

>  Is there some secret to 
> successful favas? 

Plant them in very cold weather.  They don't do well when it warms up.  

>Why would a seed company be so stingy?

> 
No doubt one of those "more money than you have sense" seed companies.  Many 
companies have a fixed weight of bean seeds you will get and if that comes to 
300 turtle bean seeds, then the same weight is only ten fava beans and so 
sorry, that's what you get.

Best, I have found, to stay away from seedsmen for bean seeds.  Instead buy 
beans and plant them.  Most health food stores and bulk stores carry or can 
get 
dried fava beans.  Just make sure you are getting whole beans and not the 
split hulled beans.

Here is another source I've used many times:

http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com

A pound of fava beans is just under $4.  I've grown at least 20 different 
kinds of beans from this supplier and all had high germination rates.
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