Lima bean

Plant family

Legumes (Fabaceae)

Also known as

Butter Bean, Sieva Bean, Double Bean, Madagascar Bean

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Germination temperature

25-30 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

100 cm

Row spacing

80 cm

Seeding depth

2.5 cm

Instructions

Description

This annual plant belongs to the Fabaceae family and is native to Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. It is a legume and requires plenty of light to thrive. The harvest season extends over a period of about five weeks in late summer and fall, typically between calendar weeks 36 and 44.

Growing tips

Since lima beans are not cold-hardy and require high temperatures of 25 to 30 °C to germinate, it’s best to start them indoors. Plant the seeds about 2.5 cm deep in the soil. When planting, make sure to space the plants 100 cm apart and the rows 80 cm apart in a spot with plenty of light.