Phaseolus lunatus

Lima bean

Common names: Moon bean, Butter bean, Madagascar bean

Photo: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) produces large, flat, crescent‑shaped seeds with a buttery, mild texture. It thrives in warmth and requires a long growing season, so it needs a protected, full‑sun location in the garden. Raw beans contain cyanogenic precursors and must be cooked thoroughly before consumption.

Care instructions

Start seeds indoors in a warm pot in May, then transplant the climbing plants to a tall trellis in the warmest spot of the garden from mid‑May onward. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide wind protection. Harvest the pods for fresh beans when the seeds are well developed, or allow them to fully mature and dry for large dry beans.

Companion planting

Good neighbours

Zuckermais Cucurbita maxima cucumber Lettuce

Rather not

Onion Garlic Leek Pea

Diseases & pests

1 relevant

From the knowledge base, automatically linked by affected species.

DiseasemediumJul–Sep

Uromyces appendiculatus

Notes from real gardens

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