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Seasons
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Butter Beans or Limas, depending on the area
of the country you are from, are planted the same as snap/green
beans. For the sake of simplicity, I am going to refer to them as
limas and green beans. (That's how I was raised!)
Shelled
beans need higher soil temperature ( 65-75 degrees) to germinate and
have a longer growing season (60-80 days depending on the
variety). My mother always said limas like it hot and dry.
With green beans you eat the pod, but with limas you shell the bean out
of the pod.
There are two types of limas; bush and pole. Bush are easier to
manage as you don't have to put up fencing. Pole take longer to
mature and will produce a heavier harvest over longer period of
time. They also need more nitrogen and other basic
nutrients. The other BIG plus is you don't have to bend over
to pick!!!
I made a permanent section of the garden where I have my asparagus,
strawberries, pole limas, pole beans and cucumber fence. I leave
my fencing up year around. At planting time I hand-turn the soil
under the fence with a shovel. Since I have really soft soil, it only
takes a few minutes of work and is much easier than putting up and
taking down fencing every year. I will try to explain what I did with
this drawing.
I------I------I------I------I
I------I------I------I------I
I set two rows of poles (landscaping timbers) 6' apart. My
poles are 8' apart as I used wire fencing between the posts. (When
I redo it, I will use 16' sections of livestock paneling). This is
heavy panels of fencing available at most farm supply stores. It
will not bend under the weight of plants and lasts forever. It also
looks good because it does not sag. I added several rows of wire
lengthwise across the top and put wire tighteners on them. This
makes a "canopy" for the beans to grow on. |
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Planting:
Wait until soil is warm, 65-75 degrees (two weeks past frost date).
It is important to inoculant the seeds, or purchase seeds coated with a
fungicide, or coat with a recommended fungicide powder at planting time
to protect germinating seeds from fungal attacks in case the soil cools
down from rains or an unexpected cool spell comes.
If you struggle with grubs in your garden you can add a granulated
insect repellent to the rows before planting. Rake or hoe the granules
lightly into the row before planting.
Bush beans: plant 8 inches apart and cover with 1"
of soil.
Pole beans: plant 12-18 inches apart and cover with
1" of soil. I have found that further is better as these
plants really vine and they get thick and bushy, making it
difficult to pick.
Side-dress with 10-10-10 fertilizer or dehydrated manure every 3-4
weeks.
Harvest:
When a bean has formed within the pod. I like to harvest young
as I don't like large, mealy limas. You will be able to see and
feel the bean in the pod.
To shell, hold the pod in both hands and twist . The pod with
break open and you can take your thumb and pop them out. Rinse in
shelled beans in water and cook fresh or blanch to freeze. |
®
Hertzler
Farm
and Feed Inc.
June 26, 2004
Fordhook Bush Limas in my garden
