How to Grow and Harvest Lima Beans in Your Garden

Lima bean plants (phaseolus lunatus) have two growing styles: bush and pole. Care for both bean varieties is relatively the same, while spacing and harvesting time differ.

Bush lima beans, also known as butter beans, grow about two feet tall, have small seeds, and bear pods quickly. Popular bush bean varieties include Fordhook 242, Henderson, and Dixie Butterpea.

Pole lima beans, also known as potato limas, can grow or vine up to 12 feet high. Pole beans have larger seeds and a longer growing season than bush-style lima beans. Popular pole varieties include Christmas, Sieva, and Big Mama.

To plant lima beans in your own vegetable garden, check out the following steps:

1. 1. Choose a site. Lima beans need full sun to produce plump, green pods. While these plants can tolerate partial shade, your harvest will not be as plentiful if the beans are grown in partial shade.
2. 2. Prepare the soil. Lima beans require loose, evenly moist, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Lima beans grow best in soil that is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and air temperatures between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit—bean pods will not set if the weather is too hot.
3. 3. Set up a support system. If planting pole lima beans, you will need to set up a trellis, teepee, or other staking support system for your pole beans to climb throughout the growing season.
4. 4. Plant. Plant lima beans directly into your garden soil around one and a half to two inches deep. To plant bush beans, place beans three to six inches apart, in rows two to three feet apart. For pole lima bean planting, place beans six to 12 inches apart, in rows two and a half to three feet apart to create space for the support system.
5. 5. Companion plant. Beans and other legumes grow best with specific crops. For the best yields and most benefits, plant both kinds of beans near crops like corn and summer savory. Bush varieties do well in proximity to cucumbers, celery, and potatoes, while pole-types like sunflowers and runner beans.

Lima beans are simple to grow and require little care. Here are a few tips for growing and caring for your lima beans:

1. 1. Keep soil moist. You’ll 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. 2. Mulch. When the soil temperature averages over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the soil will start to dry out quicker—mulching can help you avoid overwatering your bean plants. Mulching around your plants will conserve soil moisture, and lessen the need for frequent watering.
3. 3. Fertilize. While lima bean plants do not require fertilization, they do have a long growing season—adding 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 nitrogen—doing so will stunt the pods’ growth.
4. 4. Check for pests and diseases. Lima beans are susceptible to pests like aphids and mites, as well as diseases like blight and plant cankers (also known as anthracnose). Pick off insect eggs as soon as you spot them.

Bush lima beans will take approximately 60 to 80 days to produce ripe pods, where pole lima beans will need 75 to 90 days, depending on the variety. The bean pods are ready to harvest once the pods are firm, plump, and between four to eight inches in length.

When harvesting, gently pull the beans from the plant, taking care not to rip the stems or vines. Picking pods as soon as they are ready will promote more sprouting throughout the season.

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