Lima bean pods are curved and flatter than common green beans.
Selecting a Planting Site
The planting site should have loose soil and lots of sun.
Raised beds and containers are also good growing options.
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Seedlings should emerge in 7 to 18 days.
Thin seedlings to about 4 to 6 inches apart.
Space rows 2 to 3 feet apart.
Beans come in bush and pole varieties.
Bush types will begin setting pods sooner.
Bush types grow 2 to 3 feet tall and may need staking when covered in pods.
Plant four to six seeds on each side of a trellis or teepee.
Soil
The soil should be well-draining and moderately rich inorganic matter.
Thesoil pHshould be slightly acidic to neutral.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy until germination.
After sprouting, the plants should get at least 1 inch of water weekly.
In hot, dry weather, mulch around the roots to keep them cool and to retain soil moisture.
Temperature and Humidity
Lima beans can be a bit temperamental about temperature.
They don’t like extremes and grow best in climates between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for several months.
However, they can handle warmer temperatures better than prolonged cool temperatures and aren’t frost-hardy.
Humidity isn’t an issue as long as adequate soil moisture is maintained.
Fertilizer
Legumesgenerally don’t need extra fertilizer, especially if the soil is already rich.
These slow-releasing sources of nutrients will help the plants continue for the rest of the season.
Pollination
Lima bean plants are self-pollinating.
Types of Lima Beans
Cultivators are continually working to improve yields and come up with shorter-season varieties.
Some varieties are better for long, warm-season climates, and others excel in more temperate zones.
Many heirloom varieties perform as well as the newer varieties.
However, fava bean pods are typically bumpy, while lima bean pods are smooth.
Harvesting Lima Beans
Lima beans are ready to harvest within 60 to 90 days.
However, mark on a calendar roughly when your variety is due to mature for a successful harvest.
Next, look for signs of maturation at the shelling or dry stages.
Dried beans can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for several years.
Allow the beans to dry directly on the plant until the seeds are hard and the pods are brittle.
An unglazed clay container is beneficial because it allows excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls.
Propagating Lima Beans
Most gardeners grow lima beans from seed.
you could save seeds from a mature plant to grow the following year.
it’s possible for you to also consider planting varieties that mature at different times to stagger your harvest.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
All the usual bean pests will seek out your lima bean plants.
They commonly include bean beetles andaphids.
If you have a particularly rainy spell, be sure to turn off any automatic irrigation.
Lima beans come in two varietiesbush beans and climbing beans.
Bush beans do not need support; however, give climbing varieties a trellis or climbing structure.
Lima bean varieties generally will be ready to harvest in two to three months or 60 to 90 days.
Plant the seeds when soil temperatures are consistently 65 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
These beans are a warm-season crop.
Lima beans are annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season.
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Phaseolus Lunatus (Java Bean, Lima Bean).North Carolina State Extension.
