Lima Beans: Growth and Care

You may know lima beans as butter or chad beans.

Lima beans that big tasty legumes that are delicious fresh, canned, or frozen and also pack a nutritional punch.

However, if you are wondering about how you can grow lima beans, then you can grow them as you would grow string beans.

All you will need is some well-prepared soil, sunshine, heat, and a few months from seed to harvest.

These beans are native to Central America, and you will need nice warm sunny conditions to grow them.

Moreover, the pods can take 60 to 90 days to mature in preferred temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Though not difficult to grow, the planting time of lima beans is important as these are frost-tender annuals.

Keep on reading.

Lima Beans

Lima beans or Phaseolus lunatus are also popular as butter beans and chad beans.

You can grow in the same way as green beans or Phaseolus vulgaris, though they tend to take a little longer to mature.

These beans tend to have familiar compound leaves that are found on other beans, and three trifoliate oval leaflets that are about 2 to 3 inches long.

Moreover, the flowers of this plant are white or yellow and tend to form loose clusters.

The resulting pods are curved and flatter than those of other common green beans.

You can start lima beans in the spring and they tend to have a relatively fast growth rate.

They can take about 2 to 3 months to mature, depending on the variety.

They must be fully cooked to be safe.

Raw lima beans along with the roots are toxic to both animals and humans.

Learn more about Poisonous Plants for Pets here.

Quick Facts about Lima Beans

Some quick facts about lima beans are:

Growing Lima Beans

To grow lima beans, keep in mind the following:

When to Plant: Lima beans tend to be a warm-season crop that you will need to place in the spring after all danger of frost passes.

The soil should be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit so that the seeds can germinate.

This means that you will need to wait roughly two weeks after the last frost to plant the beans.

Selecting a Planting Site: The planting site should have loose soil and lots of sun.

Moreover, raised beds or container growth is also a good option for growing lima beans.

However, do not plants them near the members of the Allium family as they can hinder the root growth of the bean plants.

Spacing, Depth, and Support: You will need to plant the seeds roughly 1 inch deep and 2 to 4 inches apart.

Make sure the thin seedlings to about 4 to 6 inches apart.

The rows should be at least spaced 2 to 3 feet apart and the seeds will emerge in 7 to 18 days.

It is important to note that there are both bush and pole varieties of lima beans,

The bush types will begin setting pods sooner and can grow 2 to 3 feet tall.

These will need staking when you cover the pods.

On the other hand, pole beans will need sturdy growth as vines can grow 10 feet or more and become heavy with pods.

You can plant four to six seeds on each side of a trellis or teepee.

Lima Beans Care

To care for these beans, keep in mind the following requirements:

Light: You will need a location with the full sun which means at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days to get the most yield from your beans.

In addition to light for growth, full sun exposure also means keeping the vines dry and less prone to fungal problems.

Soil: The soil should be well-draining and moderately rich in organic matter.

It is important to note that heavy clay soils can pose problems as lima beans have deep, expansive roots and do not like to sit in wet soil.

Moreover, the pH of the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral.

Water: Make sure to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy until germination.

Then make sure that your plant receives at least 1 inch of water per week.

In hot, dry weather, you will need to mulch around the roots to keep them cool and retain soil moisture.

Make sure to pay extra attention to watering once the plants are in flower and start setting pots.

They will drop the flowers/pods if they experience drought at this point.

Temperature and Humidity: Lima beans can be a little temperamental about temperature.

They do not like extremes and will grow best in climates that stay between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for a number of months.

However, they can handle warmer temperatures better than prolonged cool temperatures and are not frost-hardy.

Humidity often is not an issue as long as adequate soil moisture is maintained.

Fertilizer: Legumes, in most cases, will not need extra fertilizer, especially if the soil is already rich.

However, as some lima bean varieties have a fairly long growing season, it can help to give them a side dressing of compost or composted manure mid-season.

These slow-releasing sources of nutrients will help the plant to continue for the rest of the season.

Pollination: Lima beans are self-pollinated.

Types of Lima Beans

It is important to note that breeders are continuously working to improve yields and come up with shorter-season varieties.

Some varieties are better for long, warm-season climates, while others excel in more temperate zones.

Moreover, there are a number of heirloom varieties that are still being offered that perform as well as the newer varieties.

These includes:

‘Christmas’: These large, burgundy, and white beans tend to have a potato-like texture.

They are an heirloom variety and take 90 days to mature.

‘Jackson Wonder’: These buff-colored beans tend to have burgundy speckles and can handle the heat and take about 66 days to grow.

‘King of the Gardens’: This popular variety tends to have large white beans that are produced over a long season of about 88 days.

‘Henderson’s Bush’: This is an old and reliable variety with small white beans.

Moreover, it keeps producing for weeks and grows to maturity in 65 days.

‘Fordhook 242’: This one is a heavy producer of medium-size beans, and is a good choice for cooler climates.

It takes about 72 days to grow to maturity.

Lima Beans vs. Fava Beans

It is important to note that lima beans and fava beans have a somewhat similar appearance, once they are both shelled and dried.

However, fava bean pods are often bumpy while lima bean pods are smooth.

Lima beans tend to be starchier with a more mild flavor than fava beans.

Some say they have a cheese-like taste.

Harvesting Tips

Knowing, when your bean variety should be ready for harvesting, is important as this can fluctuate for approximately 60 to 90 days.

You will need to harvest lima beans at the shelling stage or the dry stage.

Moreover, these are ready for sheeling when the pod changes color, the beans inside plump up, however, before the pods and seeds dry.

If you want to harvest the beans so that you can store them as dried beans, leave the pods on the vine until they are dry and brittle, with the beans inside dry and hard.

Make sure to hold the vine end pulling off the pods to prevent damaging the vine.

Keep shelled beans in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Or you can shell and blanch the beans to freeze for up to three months.

Dried beans can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for a number of years.

Allow the beans to dry directly on the plant until the seeds are hard and the pods are brittle.

Growing in Pots

If you do not have garden space or the right soil conditions, you can choose to have container gardening.

You will need to choose a container that is at least a foot wide with a similar depth.

Make sure it has ample drainage holes.

An unglazed clay container is beneficial for it as it will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls.

Water when the top inch of the soil feels dry.

However, make sure that the soil does not get waterlogged.

Also, add stakes or another type of support for the container plant to climb if it is a vining variety.

Pruning and Propagation Tips

Pruning is not essential, however, pinching back the top couple of inches of the growth as the plant begins to flower can help promote a bushier habit and potentially more flowering and fruiting.

It is important to note that most gardeners grow lima beans from seeds.

And you can save seeds from a mature plant to grow the next year.

This is an easy and inexpensive way to get new plants.

And it will allow you to duplicate plants there were especially good producers or whose taste you liked.

Here is how you can do it:

• allow the pods to dry out on the plant
• then cut them off when they are brittle
• arrange the pods in a single layer and continue to dry them for at least two weeks indoors in a cool, dry spot with good air circulation
• remove the seeds from the pods
• put them in an airtight container and store the container in a cool, dark, dry spot

Growing from Seeds

Lima seeds can take roughly 7 to 18 days to germinate from seeds.

To extend your harvest, you can do succession planting seeds every two to three weeks as long as your growing season is long enough.

Moreover, consider planting varieties that tend to mature at different times to stagger your harvest.

However, if you have a short growing season, you can start seeds indoors around three to four weeks before the projected last frost date in the spring.

Make sure to use biodegradable pots that you can plant in the ground or in a larger container so that you do not have to disturb the roots of the seedlings.

Or you can also choose to warm your outdoor soil faster in the spring by putting a black sheet of plastic over it before planting seeds.

Potting, Repotting, and Overwintering

You will need to use a quality all-purpose potting mix that drains well for potting lima beans.

Make sure to avoid having to repot your bean plants by selecting a container that will accommodate their mature size

This is because they will not take well to having their roots disturbed.

As lima beans are annuals, they will complete their life cycle in one growing season.

There will be no need for overwintering.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

All the usual bean pests tend to seek out lima bean plants.

These commonly include:

• bean beetles
• aphids

It is important to note that many rodents also love tender, young seedlings, so experts recommend fencing to keep them out of your garden.

The biggest plan disease your beans can suffer from is root rot.

YOu can avoid it will well-draining soil and proper watering.

In case you have a rainy spell, make sure to turn off your automatic irrigation.