(Reprinted August 1936)
Lima Beans
HE LIMA BEAN, generally known as the butterbean, is of
importance because of the many forms in which it is used,
its high food value, and the ease with which it may be grown.
It is used fresh, as a canned product, in soup mixtures, and as a
dried product. As a food it is relatively low in fat, but rela-
tively high in protein, carbohydrates (sugars and starches), and
minerals, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. It
also contains important vitamins.
The percentage of each of these foods and the vitamins in
the lima bean are indicated below:
Pro- Carbo- Cal- Phos- Potas- Vita-
Fat tein hydrates cium Iron phorus sium mins
Dried beans 1.5 18.1 65.9 .071 007 .338 1.741 AB
Green beans .7 7.1 22.0 .028 .002 .133 .613 A, B, C
VARIETIES
There are many varieties and strains of both bush and pole
lima beans, but under Alabama conditions the small- to medium-
seeded varieties produce approximately twice as much as 
the
large-seeded varieties. Four plantings of bush limas per year
for four years, at Auburn, on soil of low to medium fertility 
made
an average yield (green in the pod) of 4,500 pounds for the
small- to medium-seeded varieties and 2,000 pounds for the 
large-
seeded varieties. It is difficult to obtain a stand with the large-
seeded varieties; the plants grow well and bloom profusely 
but
set few pods. Many of the pods that set fail to develop seed.
Colored varieties, especially some of the colored 
pole varieties
not commonly catalogued, tend to produce high yields as com-
pared with the white varieties. The Henderson and Woods
Prolific (white) and Jackson Wonder (colored) are good bush
varieties. Carolina Sieva, Willow Leaf, and Yopps are good
white-seeded pole varieties. The Florida Speckled is also a good
pole variety.
The small-seeded varieties compare well in quality with the
large-seeded varieties. The colored varieties are not considered
to be as high in quality as the white-seeded varieties, 
mainly due
to a rather strong flavor, a slight astringency, and a tendency
toward a granular product.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
M. J. FUNCHESS, Director
AUBURN
LEAFLET NO. 14 APRIL 1935
SOIL AND CULTURE
The lima bean makes its greatest yield on a moderately
heavy, fertile soil, although it fruits a little earlier on light sandy,
well-fertilized soil. The plants are not so easily injured by frost
as plants of the snap bean, but the seeds germinate slowly, or
not at all, when planted in a cold soil; therefore limas are usually
planted a week or ten days later in the spring than snap beans.
They should be planted as early as practicable because the
earlier plantings usually produce much more than late plantings.
The cotyledons (enlarged parts of the seed) push through the
ground with the young plant, and for this reason it is necessary
that the seed be planted in soil that has been thoroughly pre-
pared.
Seeds of bush limas are usually planted in rows 21/ to 3 feet
apart and covered 1 to 2 inches deep. Pole varieties require
more space; the planting distance is determined by the method
of staking that is to be used. It requires approximately 1 bushel
of seed of the small- to medium-seeded varieties for 1 acre or 1
pint for 100 feet of row.
Setting of the pods is favored by a high degree of moisture
in the air during the period of bloom and early pod formation;
foggy nights are especially favorable to the development 'of the
pods and beans. The lima bean has a deep root system and can
withstand periods of drouth, provided the soil contains moisture
within reach of the deeper roots.
If the soil has been thoroughly prepared before planting,
the weeds may be easily controlled with shallow cultivation.
Cultivation should be practically, if not entirely, discontinued
from the time plants are blooming well until the first or main
crop has been harvested. During the development of the first
crop the plants slow down in growth and often drop some of the
foliage. This permits weeds and grass to start in the middles
and in the drill just about the time the bean plants are starting
a second growth and bloom period. At this time the weeds and
grass should be killed in the middles with shallow cultivation,
and those in the drill should be pulled out.
FERTILIZERS
The lima bean responds well to a liberal application of fer-
tilizer. In soil of low fertility at Auburn, an application of 1,000
to 1,500 pounds per acre of a fertilizer analyzing 4-8-4 has given
good yields. Very good yields have been obtained also by ap-
plications of 6 tons of manure. It is advisable to apply the fer-
tilizer in the drill 10 days to 2 weeks before planting because
good stands will be prevented if the fertilizer comes in very close
contact with the seed. A portion of the nitrogen may be with-
held and applied as a side dressing after the beans have started
growth.
HARVESTING
Bush varieties produce beans large enough for use as green
beans in about 80 days from planting. The harvest period of
green beans extends over about 
50 days. Pole varieties come 
into
bearing about 10 days to 2 weeks later and continue to bear over
a longer period than bush varieties.
Beans which are to be used green, canned, or as dried-green
beans should be harvested after they have reached maximum
size but before they have changed from green to white. Plants
bear over a longer period and make greater yields if beans are
not allowed to mature before harvesting. Dry beans should be
harvested at 2 to 3 week intervals as they mature throughout
the season. This is especially necessary with the small-seeded
varieties because the pods open and the beans shatter if not
harvested soon after they mature. Large plantings, whether
grown for use as green or dry beans, are harvested with bean
cutters.
Green beans keep better after harvest if left in the pods;
however, beans in pods are likely to heat and become damaged
quickly after harvest unless kept well ventilated or at a low
temperature. They shell better if the pods are 
allowed to wilt
slightly after harvest. Green beans that are to be kept for any
considerable length of time should be spread out for a short time
after they have been shelled so that the surface of the beans may
become dry, otherwise they will be injured by mildew.
INSECTS AND DISEASES
The flea beetle, bean leaf beetle, and Mexican bean beetle are
the insects most likely to damage lima beans. In the order
named, they range in size from insects so small that the grower
usually does not see them to insects about half the size of a cow-
pea. The flea beetle and the bean leaf beetle are more likely to
damage the young plants, while the Mexican bean beetle is more
likely to damage the older plants and pods.
The best control may be obtained by cleaning up hedges,
rubbish, and other places where the insects winter, by destroy-
ing vines as soon as the beans are harvested, and by thoroughly
covering both sides of the leaves, especially the underside, with
an effective spray or dust.
The flea beetle may be controlled by the use of Bordeaux
mixture to which has been added arsenate of lead. Fifty gallons
of liquid Bordeaux is equivalent to eight pounds of powdered
Bordeaux. It will require 1 to 11/2 pounds of powdered arsenate
4
of lead with either of these. The other insects may be controlled
by dusting with a mixture of 1 pound of ground Derris root con-
taining 4 to 5 per cent rotenone and 8 pounds of talc. Dusting
sulphur may be substituted for the talc. The sulphur aids in
the control of red spider, leaf hopper, and certain diseases.
The nematode, a very s mall worm responsible for the numer-
ous knots that appear on the roots of many plants, often causes
serious damage to lima beans, especially on sandy soils. Serious
damage may be avoided by rotating beans with corn or with
nematode-resistant varieties of cowpeas, such as California
Black Eye, Conch, Brabham, Iron or by planting, resistant se-
lections and saving seed from those for future planting.
Diseases seldom seriously injure lima beans but it is well to
practice rotation and use disease-free seed. If necessary, plants
may be dusted with powdered Bordeaux or dusting sulphur.
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY