Maturity group — faba bean

For this crop, three main maturity groups are distinguished: early-maturing with a growing season of 95–100 days, mid-maturing around 130 days, and late-maturing, with a ripening period reaching 145 days. Vegetable types with a development period of 60–70 days can also be categorized as early.

The maturity group determines cultivation strategy, influencing the choice of optimal sowing dates and the intended use of the harvest. Late-maturing types, which possess intensive vegetative mass growth, are often used for silage, whereas varieties with a short development cycle are preferred for grain production.

The criterion for the end of the growing season for all maturity groups is the phase at which plants shed their leaves and the pods acquire the dark color characteristic of the variety. This trait directly determines the timing of desiccation and final harvesting.