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
Corn.
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.
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.
