Lima Beans - Vitamin Packed

Growing lima beans, Bush limas (or butter beans) are grown in the same general way as bush snap-beans.

Plant one seed each 3 or 4 inches in the drill or four or five seed in hills 12 inches apart. Make the first planting as soon as danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed up a bit. Follow with plantings every three or four weeks through early July to have fresh beans all summer and up to frost.

The lima or butter bean is one of our most important vegetables. Even as a dry bean, it is excellent. Liberal plantings should be made in all gardens. It is very susceptible to bean beetle damage, but we often forget that it is even more resistant to dry weather than cowpeas.

Pole lima beans (or running butter-beans) should be planted like pole snap beans. They must have something on which to run. A good place to plant them is next to the garden fence, where they can climb.

Plant in rows 4 feet wide, with two to three seed in hill, 18 to 24 inches apart. As with other beans, avoid deep covering of the seed. Proper depth to plant is 1 inch on heavy soils and 1 1/2 inches on light or sandy soils.

Many consider the quality of the pole lima to be better than that of the bush type. If there is enough space plant enough to provide your needs. They do not bear as early as the bush limas, so plant enough bush limas an early crop.