Description
- HARDINESS ZONE.7-11
- GROW.After prepping the soil, direct sow the seeds. Plant them 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep and 6 inches apart at the base of the trellis. As for germination time, both bush and vining types of lima beans germinate in 8 to 12 days, depending on soil temperature.
- WHEN TO PLANT. Spring
- EDIBLE.Lima bean sprouts, leaves, young pods and green seeds (immature or dry) are edible and eaten as vegetables. The dry seeds are eaten boiled, fried, ground into powder and baked, and used in soups and stews.
- NOTE.Like many beans, raw lima beans are toxic (containing e.g. phytohaemagglutinin) if not boiled for at least 10 minutes.
Lima beans, named after the capital city of their origin country Peru, are nutritious, warm-season legumes full of protein and iron. Lima beans are fast growing and harvest, and make delicious additions to meals and snacks. If you live in a climate with higher soil temperatures, you may be able to produce your own bountiful lima bean harvest. Lima beans are simple to grow and require little care. Here are a few tips for growing and caring for your lima beans: 1. Keep soil moist. Youll need to keep the soil of your lima bean plant evenly moist (but not soggy) throughout the growing process, especially during flowering. Lima beans require about an inch of water per week to thrive. 2. Mulch. When the soil temperature averages over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the soil will start to dry out quickermulching can help you avoid overwatering your bean plants. Mulching around your plants will conserve soil moisture, and lessen the need for frequent watering. 3. Fertilize. While lima bean plants do not require fertilization, they do have a long growing seasonadding a dose of fertilizer about midway through the season can help your plants thrive. Use an aged compost to fertilize the soil around your lima bean plants. Beans fix their own nitrogen, so it is not necessary to use fertilizers high in nitrogendoing so will stunt the pods growth.