Growing Bush Lima Beans
Organic Vegetable Gardening
Fact Sheet
Botanical name: Phaseolus lunatus
Seed |
| Planting time: |
SU |
| Seeds per ounce: |
25-90 (depending on size) |
| Ounces per square foot: |
.4 |
| Minimum legal germination rate: |
70% |
| Germination type: |
Short Germinating seeds |
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Notes |
Bush Lima Beans mature more slowly about 10 to 15 days later than Pole Lima Beans. When planting the soil temperature needs to be warm (65°+ F) to ensure good germination. They suffer in arid and semi-arid areas unless you can cool the area with shade.
The large seed size of Lima Beans store significant amount of carbohydrates, making them susceptible to soil fungi and bacteria.
Harvest Lima Beans when pods are bright green, the seeds are full-sized and the ends of the pods will be soft. |
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Planting |
| In garden spacing (inches): |
6 |
| In flat spacing (inches): |
1 |
| Planting depth (inches): |
1 |
| Maximum number of plants per square foot: |
6 |
| Nutrient relationship: |
Heavy Giver of Nitrogen |
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Harvest |
| Days to maturity: |
63-77 |
| Harvesting period (days): |
84 |
| Minimum yields in pounds /square foot: |
.1 |
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Cultural |
| Diseases: |
Angular Leaf Spot (fungal disease) can be a problem in damp conditions. Less common diseases such as Anthracnose, mosaic virus and bacterial blight can occur. |
Insect pests:
[Insect Pest Finder] |
Limabean Pod Borer
Mexican Bean Beetle
Slugs and Snails
Japanese Beetle |
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Varieties |
'Dixie Butterpea' - white seed with 3 to 4 small plump beans per pod. Does well in hot weather. This variety is large and vigorous plants.
'Early Thorogreen' – flat, small, rich-green baby Lima. Very productive. Very adaptable and vigorous.
'Henderson Bush' - white seed; 3 to 4 small, flat beans per pod. This is the most popular variety. Small plant and productive.
'Jackson Wonder' – small peckled bean with purple markings. Medium-sized plant.
'Nemagreen' - seeds greenish-white; 3 to 4 small, flat beans per pod. The plants are small, productive; similar to 'Henderson Bush'. Resistant to root-knot nematodes. |
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Organic Gardening Seed and Plant Sources:
Return to Organic Gardening Vegetables from Bush Lima Beans
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