HOW TO GROW LIMA BEANS
FROM SEEDS
1. ........Starting The Seed
2. . Acquire
lima bean seeds. There are two
main varieties: bush beans and vine (pole) beans. They are often labeled
determinate and indeterminate, respectively, and you can grow them as either
annuals or perennials. Weigh the pros and cons of each type, then find
lima bean seeds at a local nursery or garden-supply store.
·
Bush beans tend to
mature more quickly. They are called "determinate" plants because
they yield all of their beans at one time. The bushes grow up to 30-90
centimeters high. Stick to bush varieties (like Henderson
or Fordhook) if you're growing lima beans in a pot.
·
"Indeterminate"
vine varieties mature more slowly, but they yield a better harvest per square
foot, and they tend to have fewer problems with disease. On a pole, a vine
plant can grow 2-4 meters high. Consider growing this variety in a small
garden.
. Germinate
beans in a bag. Wrap your lima
beans in a wet paper towel, then seal the towel inside an airtight plastic bag.
Let the seeds germinate for 2-4 weeks, until they sprout stems and small roots.
Each bean should feature one prominent, noticeable stem.
. Start
seedlings in a pot. If you live in a
region with a short growing season, start the seeds in seedling pots roughly
3-4 weeks before you expect the final frost of the spring. Bury each seed
beneath 1-2 inches of loose soil. Keep them in a warm, moist environment, no
cooler than 60° Fahrenheit and no hotter than 70°. T
·
Consider using a
biodegradable peat or paper pot. Lima bean seedlings can be delicate and
difficult to transplant, so it is safest to use a pot that you can plant
directly into the ground. Do not try to plant a clay or plastic pot into the ground,
as this will limit the plant's growth.
·
Sowing and Growing
1. Sow the seeds or seedlings in the mid-spring. Lima beans are native to Peru, and they grow best in warm climes where the temperature stays about 60-70° Fahrenheit throughout the growing season. Plant the seeds 2-4 after the final spring
frost, once the weather begins to warm. The temperature should not dip below
60° Fahrenheit in the evenings. Sow seedlings, if you started them indoors, or
simply sow the seeds.
·
In the Midwest, lima
beans are usually planted between May 20th and June 30th.
·
Make sure not to plant
the seeds too early! They will rot in cool, moist earth. If you plant them too
late, however, the high temperatures may interfere with pod growth.
Consider
staggering bush bean planting. "Determinate" bush varieties yield all of their
beans at once, which can be a lot to handle if you aren't able to sell, cook,
or freeze all of the crop within 10-14 days. If you want to ensure a more
gradual harvest, try planting a new batch of bush beans every two weeks for 6-8
weeks after the last frost. This should keep your bean harvest going for
longer.
Plant
the beans 1-2 inches deep in soft soil. Set bush beans 4-6 inches apart, and pole beans 8-10
inches apart. Sow them with the eye of the bean facing downward into the soil.
If you are planting multiple rows of lima beans, make sure to leave 24-36
inches between the rows for easy access and unrestricted growth. The perfect
planting site is sunny, well-drained, and moderately fertile. Aim for soil that
is slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
·
Avoid high-nitrogen
soil, and do not use a fertilizer that's been infused with extra nitrogen.
Nitrogen fertilization will make the plant grow lush leaves, but it may limit
bean pod growth.
Make
sure to provide a support structure for vine varieties. Indeterminate beans need a pole or
trellis to reach their full growing potential. Set this up as soon as you plant the seeds (or even earlier) so that you do not risk damaging the delicate
roots. Set up a wooden or metal pole that is at least five feet tall, and no
more than an inch in diameter. The support should be securely staked into the
ground beside the plant. As the bean plant grows, you will need to patiently
guide the seeking vine so that it begins to wrap around the pole.
·
Once the vine has
"embraced" the pole, the plant should grow up and around the support
without any further coaxing.
Consider
container growing. If you are
planting the beans in a pot: make sure to use a pot that is at least 8-10 inches
wide, and equally deep. Bush beans are better suited for container cultivation,
although you can get away with a pole bean if the pot is large enough.
Water
regularly. Keep the earth
damp, but not soggy. Be careful not to water too heavily or too frequently,
lest you drown the delicate lima bean seedlings. Be aware, however, that they
require about one inch of water each week (from rain or irrigation) during the
blossoming and pod development stages. Pour the water at the base of the plants, not over the top: disease and mildew can develop in consistently-wet
foliage.
·
Spread mulch around
the base of the plant to conserve moisture. This will keep you from having to
water every day, as the hot season develops, and it should keep the weeds down.
·
Frequent watering is
especially important in the heat of summer. Seed pods can dry and crack when
the climate grows too hot.
1. Wait for the plants to mature. Harvest bush varieties within 60-70 days
of planting, and harvest pole beans after 85-90 days. The plant will
flower, the flowers will die, and seed pods will appear. If you're growing bush
beans, the harvest will come all at once. If you're growing a pole variety,
expect to be pulling beans off of the vine for a month or two.
·
Harvest
when the pods are bright green and filled-out. Be patient, but not too patient. If the
beans dry out on the plant, they will be tough and practically inedible. To
test, gently tug a seed pod that looks ready. If the bean comes easily off the
vine, then it is ripe and ready. If it clings to the plant, then it might need
a few more days. Try to pick pods as soon as they're ready. This will coax the
plant to create new pods. Once you allow a couple of bean pods to over-mature,
this usually triggers the entire plant to stop blooming and producing pods.
Dry
and store the beans. You can prepare
lima beans to cook right away,
or you can dry them out for long-term storage. Freshly-picked beans will last
for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
·
Try blanching
the beans, then freezing them.
This is a safe way to store them for longer periods of time.
·
For very long-term
secure storage, shell and dry the beans. Store them in a cool, dry, airtight container, and they will
last for 8-10 months.
No comments:
Post a Comment