OK, so this will be a bit of a challenge. But I like challenges!
I blame it on some form of divine intervention (or interference, or whatever . . .). I was minding my own business at our only garden center (that is not a chain home improvement store). I stopped to pick up a small bag of super phosphate, and walked past the seed rack (dangerous) when I saw it: "Bean, Fava, Heirloom, Broad Windsor", for sale in the Deep South. Georgia gardening expert Walter Reeves says on his website that a friend has tried growing fava beans and had given up after killing them several times. Walter leaves without proposing a how-to, and ends with "Try them where you live and let me know!"
The intervention (or interference): Why would these seeds be in the garden center if I wasn't supposed to try growing them?
Game Plan
So, I know that broad beans hate it if it's too hot, or too cold. Temperature above 80 F (27 C) is not good, and below 15 F (-9 C) is also fatal. 365 days of the year, I could exceed either of those, but I have the lowest chance of exceeding that range if I try planting in early October (I'm trying to ignore that it has been 100 F (38 C) in early October, just a couple years ago). It is not unusual to get into early December without a frost, and most of those are just below freezing. Real cold mostly comes in January and February. I might get a little harvest, and in a really mild winter, they could winter over until spring.
I view it as a good sign that the packet, which is supposed to have just 10 seeds, actually has 16.
In my favor, rhubarb is not supposed to grow in Georgia either, and my rhubarb is growing very well despite the heat.
Any hints or suggestions for success? Are the suggested temperature ranges above likely to be realistic? Would 16 seeds be too small to grow a useful quantity of beans (meaning enough for an occasional side dish here and there).