Crop Rotation Group
Legumes (Pea and Bean family)
|
|
Soil
Average, well drained soil.
|
Position
Full sun.
|
Frost tolerant
Warm-season annuals, cannot tolerate frost.
|
Feeding
Mix an organic fertilizer into the soil before planting, using rates given on the label. Supplemental fertilizer seldom required.
|
Companions
-
|
Spacing
Single Plants: 9" (25cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 1' 1" (35cm) row gap (minimum)
|
Sow and Plant
Plant seeds 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart two weeks or more after the last frost has passed. Grow pole varieties in warm climates, but stick with faster-maturing bush varieties where summers are short.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
|
Notes
Lima beans need plenty of hot weather. They are most productive in warm climates.
|
Harvesting
For fresh eating, gather pods when they feel well-filled with seeds, and are slightly leathery. Limas for dry storage can be left on the plants until they change from green to tan.
|
Troubleshooting
Slow growth due to cool temperatures is common, but pest problems are rare. Lima beans are easy to grow in warm climates.
|