Phaseolus limensis

Fabaceae

Lima Bean

Climbing or erect annual with broadly ovate leaves. White or yellowish pea flowers in racemes. Large thick-edged fruit pods producing large seeds that are an important food crop.

Uses

Harvest the fruit while still tender, 80-100 days after planting. Usually dried for use in soups and stews.

Culture

Sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures. Plant seeds singly, 10cm apart (3-4 inches) in most reasonable soils (Beans actually help improve poor soils for other crops). Do not plant alongside onions, garlic or related plants. Responds to regular feeding (NPK 1:2:2 is ideal). Best in soil pH of 6-7.5; avoid salt contaminated soil. Can suffer from mites, thrip, bean fly and viruses. http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/profiles/c08bbean.html

Propagation

No information available at this time...

Cultivars

No information available at this time...

Plant Health

No information available at this time...

More info

Commercial Vegetable Growing course through Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/hort

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