Commercial Production of Lima Beans in Mississippi
Lima or "butter" beans grow well throughout Mississippi. The bush-type lima is less expensive to produce than the pole-type lima beans. The pole type bears longer, and because it is staked, is easier to harvest by hand.
Soil
Lima beans grow on a variety of soils. A well-drained fertile sandy loam, loam, or silt-loam is best. A soil with some organic matter is desirable. Limas grow best in a pH range from 6.0 to 6.7.
Varieties
Bush
- Hendersons--70 days, small, light-green seeds; productive plants medium small; bush, erect.
- Early Thorogreen--60 days; small, green seeds, early maturing; highly productive.
- Jackson Wonder--65 days; speckled seeds.
Pole
- Carolina Sieva--80 days; small greenish-white seeds; sets well in hot weather.
Planting Dates
| Zone | Bush | Pole |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Counties | Mar. 1 - Aug. 15 | Mar. 1 - Aug. 5 |
| South Central | Mar. 15 - Aug. 1 | Mar. 15 - July 20 |
| Central | Mar. 20 - Aug. l | Mar. 20 - July 20 |
| North Central | Apr. 1 - July 25 | Apr. 1 - July 15 |
| North | Apr. 10 - July 15 | Apr. 10 - July 5 |
Seeding Rate
Bush limas require 50 to 60 pounds of seed per acre. Pole beans require 25 to 30 pounds of seed for sowing one acre.Sow bush limas 4 to 5 seeds per foot of row, about 2 inches deep. Space rows 3 to 3 1/2 feet apart. For pole limas staked with individual poles, bunch 3 to 4 seeds 24 to 26 inches apart and 2 inches deep. When using a wire or string trellis, drill 3 to 4 seeds per foot of row. Space rows 4 to 5 feet apart.
Fertilizer
Apply lime and fertilizer according to a soil test. Lime should be applied 3 months before planting. Apply fertilizer 10 days to 2 weeks before planting. To a medium-fertility soil, broadcast 80 pounds of actual nitrogen and 400 pounds of 0-20-20 per acre.
Irrigation
Without irrigation, lima bean yields are inconsistent and quality may suffer. Soil moisture is particularly important during blossoming and pod set. Dry soils will result in blossom drop and small pods. On clay soils, lima beans should receive about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of rainfall or irrigation per week before blossom, and 1 inch per week during blossoming and pod development. On sandy soils, plants require 1/2 inch twice a week or 3/4 inch every 5 days during blossom and pod development.
Weed Control
Keep cultivation shallow to prevent injury to the surface feeder roots. Do not cultivate when plants are wet, since this may spread disease. A number of herbicides are labeled for use on lima beans. Treflan or Prowl may be incorporated before planting. Dual or Lasso may be incorporated before planting. Dacthal may be applied immediately after planting. Basagran can be used as a postemergence herbicide for broadleaves after the first trifoliate leaf of the crop has fully expanded.For more details, refer to Extension's latest issue of "Weed Control Guidelines for Mississippi."
Disease Control
Lower your risk of having disease problems by buying disease-free seeds, by treating seeds with a fungicide before sowing, by plowing under old crop debris, and by crop rotation.
| Symptom | Disease |
|---|---|
| Small, water-soaked area on leaves and pots | Bacterial wilt |
| Distorted leaves with green and yellow streaking | Mosaic |
| Grayish-white mold on leaf surfaces | Powdery mildew |
| Plants stunted or die in seedling stage | Seedling disease and root rot |
| Reddish-orange pustular spots on leaves | Rust |
| Plant suddenly wilts and dies. White mold on stem at soil line. | Southern blight |
| Reddish blotches on pods, stems, and leaves | Stem anthracnose |
When disease has been identified, refer to the latest edition of "Disease, Insect, and Nematode Control Recommendations for Commercial Vegetables in Mississippi," Extension Publication 554, for control measures.
Insect Control
Common insect problems for lima beans include the Mexican bean beetle, corn earworm, stink bug, thrips, and the whitefly. For controlling these insects, refer to Publication 554.
Harvesting
Harvest well-developed but not overmature pods. After picking, transfer lima bean pods to shade as soon as possible. Remove trash, leaves, stems, dirt, or diseased beans. Lima beans are commonly packed in wire-bound boxes or bean hampers (35 pounds gross) or in 50-pound mesh bags.
Storage
Lima beans are highly perishable but sensitive to chilling injury. Precool to 41 ° to 43 °F for unshelled beans, or 37 ° to 39 °F for shelled beans, preferably by hydrocooling immediately after harvest. Store in 95 percent relative humidity for 5 days for unshelled, or 7 days for shelled beans.
Yield
An average yield for unshelled lima beans is 125 bushels (32 pounds per bushel) or 2 tons per acre.Cost Per Acre
| Preharvest | $148 |
| Harvest | $781 |
| Total | $929 |
|---|
Returns Per Acre
Prices range from $12 to $27 a bushel; 1989 through 1993 prices were consistently above $20.
The information given here is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended of other products that may also be suitable.
By Dr. David Nagel, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.
Information Sheet
1520
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress,
May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director
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