LIMA BEAN Phaseolus limensis

FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS
    Thirty plants in this family are used as vegetables.  These are used primarily in countries other than the United States.  They range from tubers and tuberous roots to seeds and pods.  Some common ones grown in the US are garden pea, cowpea, snap bean, lima bean, soybean, scarlet runner, lentil, chick pea, and broad bean.  Most of these are primarily important for carbohydrates and protein.  The immature pods are also high in Vitamins A and C.  Legumes are also nitrogen fixers, although in the major crops in cultivation, they do not fix a sufficient amount of nitrogen and it must be provided in fertilizers.
    Family members include:

Arachis hypogaea L.; Ground Nut,  Peanut Cajanus cajan Mill sp.; Pigeon Pea Canavalia ensiformis D.C.; Jack Bean Canavalia gladiata D.C.; Sword Bean Cier acietinum L.; Chick Pea Clitoria tematea L.; Butterfly Bean Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.; Cluster Bean  Dolichos lablab L.; Hyacinth Bean Dolichos uniflorus Lam.; Horsegram Glycine max Merr.; Soybean Lathyrus sativus L.; Grass Pea Lens esculenta Moench.; Lentil Lotus tetragonolobus L.; Asparagus Pea Lupinus spp.; Lupin Medicago sativa L ; Alfalfa Pachyrihizus erosus (L.) Urban; Yam Bean Phaseolus aconitifolius Jacq.; Moth Bean

Phaseolus acutifolus Gray; Tepary Bean Phaseolus angularis Wright; Adzuki Bean Phaseolus aureus Roxb.; Mung Bean,  Green Gram Phaseolus coccineus L.; Scarlet Runner Bean Phaseolus lunatus L.; Lima Bean Phaseolus mungo L.; Black Gram Phaseolus vulgaris L.; Common Bean Pisum sativum L.; Pea Pisum sativum L. (Macrocarpon group); Edible Podded Pea Psophocarpus tetragonolobus D.C.; Goa Bean,  Winged Bean Pueraria spp.; Kudzu Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst. ex. A. Rich.; African Yam Bean Stizolobium spp.; Velvet Bean Triqonella foenum-graecum L. Fenugreek Vicia faba L.; Broad Bean Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.; Southern Pea Voandzeia subterranean (L.) Thou.; Bambara Ground Nut

CROP HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
    Lima beans and butter beans are native to Central America, mainly Guatemala and southern Mexico.  These crops were  spread throughout other regions and into North America along trade routes.  The large seeded lima beans date back to 5000 to 6000 BC along the coast of South America toward Peru.  The small seeded butter bean dates back to 300 to 500 BC in Mexico and Guatemala.  This is the type that was introduced into North America.  Explorers and traders then stocked the beans on their ships as they traveled to countries such as Africa, Asia, and Europe.
    Today, these beans are used mainly for processing or as dry beans.  They withstand heat and drought better than snap beans, though they require a longer growing period.  Almost all of the production is in coastal California because of the long season and temperatures that are not excessively high and allow for a high quality product.  Those that are grown for the fresh market are limited to local markets and direct sales.  Lima beans are grown primarily in California, Delaware, Wisconsin, Washington, New Jersey, New York, Idaho, Oregon, the midwest,  Butter bean lima's are popular in the south.

Cultivars 'Fordhook' is the most common cultivar for the large seed type.  Although it has superior quality, it has narrow adaptability to different areas.  It was first found as a dwarf form in the middle of a pole lima bean field and later released in 1907 by Burpee Company.  It has been improved over time and is the most popular large seed type used today.  The original cultivar for the small seed type, or baby lima, is ‘Henderson Bush’.  It was found in 1885.  Current cultivars are ‘Thorogreen’ and ‘Nemagreen’.  Baby limas are very adaptable and are grown widely.  The pole or sieva bean is grown mainly in home gardens with no specific cultivars.  One difference between the older cultivars of these beans and the newer ones is that the older ones had white seed colors, while today’s lima beans have more green seed color.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

Butter beans and lima beans are predominantly annuals.  Phaseolus limensis is a large seeded lima that is a tender perennial grown as an annual.  P. lunatus is the butter bean or sieva bean.  It is a climbing, small seeded annual form. P. lunatus var. lunonnus is the baby bush lima, which is also an annual.  The main difference between the species is pod characteristics.  Phaseolus limensis is thick seeded and grows in a bush form.  This species is more robust than the baby bush lima.  The pods have thicker edges, blunt tips, and large plump seeds.  Pods and seeds of P. lunatus are small and thin.  The thick seeded forms are grown successfully in few areas, whereas the baby lima is widely adapted.

Lima bean seeds Germinating lima bean seed

    Roots Both lima and butter beans go through epigal germination.  The radicle grows rapidly and develops into a primary root.  The primary root growth subsides and laterals begin to develop.  When compatible Rhizobium species are in the soil, some nodulation will occur on the laterals.  Roots on both types of plants develop to a length of more than 48 inches deep.
    Flower  Bush form  The bush form of the lima bean develops because the vegetative stem terminates in a flower cluster.  This flower cluster is made up of a long raceme with small white or yellow white flowers.  The branches develop due to the termination of the stem, thus causing an erect plant in bush form.
    Pole form  The pole form develops axillary flower racemes.  Because there is no terminal flower cluster, the vegetative growth develops into a vigorous twining plant.  There is little or no branching in this form.
    Pollination Both forms are self pollinated.

PROPAGATION METHODS
    Butter beans and lima beans are propagated primarily by seed.  Both bush and pole seeds average between 25 and 75 seeds per ounce.  For field seeding, bush forms require 40 to 60 pounds per acre.  Pole forms for the same purpose require 30 to 40 pounds per acre.  Bush beans should be planted with 3 to 6 inches between plants and 18 to 36 inches between rows.  They should be planted at a depth of 1 to 2 inches.  Pole beans should be planted with 8 to 12 inches between plants and 36 to 48 inches between rows.  These seeds should be planted at a similar depth.  Early forms of the bush type mature in 65 days, while the late forms take 78 days.  Early forms of the pole type mature in 78 days, and late forms take 88 days to reach maturity.
    Seeds can be stored at 15 percent seed moisture at 40 to 50°F, 11 percent seed moisture at 70°F, or 8 percent seed moisture at 80°F.

CULTURAL PRACTICES
    Soil Well drained, friable soils are preferred for growing these crops.  The soil should be plowed and disked prior to seeding to break up clods and make plant growth and development easier.  Crusted and compacted soils lead to resistance which can break the hypocotyl and ultimately death of the seedling.  The pH of the soil should be between 5.5 and 6.7.
    Temperatures Danger of frost should be avoided when growing butter and lima beans.  They require moderately warm soil and weather temperatures, similar to corn.  Optimum temperatures for growth are between 60 and 70°F.  Minimum temperature is 50 and the maximum is 80°F.  The soil should be between 60 and 80°F.  Excessive heat or cold will slow germination as well as early growth.  These beans require a long growing season without even a light frost.  When soil temperatures are between 70 and 80°F, emergence will occur within one week.  If temperatures are below 60°, emergence will be delayed and there will be a higher chance of root rot occurring.
    Fertilization Fertilizer should be broadcast prior to seeding.  After seeding, banding should be the method used.  If light soils are being used, 40 to 50 pounds of nitrogen should be applied per acre, 50 to 80 pounds per acre each of phosphorus  and potash should be applied at planting.  In heavy soils, nitrogen and potash should each be applied at a rate of 30 to 40 pounds per acre, phosphorus and potassium should be applied at 50 to 80 pounds per acre at planting.  Soil test should be conducted to determine the fertilizer nutrients a soil needs to grow a crop.
    Irrigation Lima beans and butter beans are most sensitive to dry conditions at flowering and pod set.  At these times, special attention must be given to make sure proper levels of water are applied through irrigation.  Shortage of irrigation at any time should be avoided.

INSECTS
    See insects under beans.

DISEASES
    Downy mildew (Phytophthora phaseoli) – White downy fungal growth develops on the    plant.  Leaves shrivel, blacken, and die back rapidly.  Young shoots and flowers are infected first.  Fully developed leaves will have vein darkening.  The plant will be destroyed within several days.  Downy mildew overwinters in diseased plant debris and seed.  It is a fungus that develops rapidly in wet weather and is spread by wind. Resistant varieties as well as disease free seed can be used.
    Pod blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum) – Brown patches form on leaves followed by concentric rings.  Over time, pods become infected and the seeds either do not form or are shriveled, thus making them unmarketable.  Pod blight overwinters in diseased plant material and seeds.  It is spread by wind in wet conditions.  Preventative sprays are useful on this disease.

HARVESTING
    Lima and butter beans are susceptible to cotyledon cracking at harvest, as well as increased root rot.  They are mechanically harvested for commercial processing.  Strippers remove the pods from the vines and shell the beans.  The pods should be well filled at harvest but not overmature.  An indication is plump pods with a tender, mostly green seed coat.  The pods do not develop uniformly.  White seeds indicate overmaturity, and high quality pods contain less than 10 percent white seeds.  Between 1975 and 1978, 63,338 acres were in production, with 77,188 tons produced at a value of $25,509,000.  By 1987, acreage had dropped to 56,113 acres in production.  An average yield in the United States would be 30 cwt. per acre, with 40 cwt. per acre being a good yield.

POST HARVEST
    Butter and lima beans must be processed or sold immediately whether they are shelled or unshelled due to their high respiration rate.  For the local fresh market they are prepackaged with occasional misting of bulk boxes to reduce pod wilting.  They can be stored for up to 2 weeks at 40°F with a relative humidity of 90 percent.