Bean (Lima Bean)

Plant family

Synonyms

Butter Bean, Sieva Bean, Double Bean, Madagascar Bean

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Seeding distance

10 cm

Row spacing

65 cm

Seeding depth

4 cm

Instructions

Description

Lima beans are annual plants that, like the familiar bush and pole beans, can grow in bushes or on stalks. They are sensitive to frost. Phaseolus lunatus are divided into lima beans (large seeds) and moon beans (small seeds). They prefer a sunny, very warm location with loose, humus-rich soil. Bush lima beans take about 60-80 days to mature, while pole lima beans take a little longer, about 85 to 90 days before they can be harvested. Like other bush bean varieties, bush lima beans like to be staggered to ensure a continuous harvest.

Growing tips

Sow only after the last frost. Indoors, cultivation can start 3-4 weeks before that. Germination temperature 18-25°C. A sheltered location is recommended, because the beans need a lot of heat to ripen.