skip to main content

Hawaii Gardening

Lima Beans When no others will thrive

ediblelandscape

7 years ago

I have struggled with beans here in Nanakuli for 5 years. I have grown Manoa Wonder, Poamoho, long beans, wing beans, and all succumb to yellow leaves, then dying leaves with eventual death. I attribute that to powdery mildew. Tomatoes and peppers suffer the same fate. Even growing in pure potting soil doesn't help. Ah, but then I tried Lima beans! They seem to be doing very well, I have harvested several times and they are growing like mad. So if you want beans, and have problems, GO LIMA!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

nieledakine
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I had powdery mildew problems for awhile, too. Planting the various plants further apart helped as well as some sulphur based garden dust, but mostly just leaving more air space between the plants helped more than the dust.

Years ago I planted four Christmas lima beans. Just four seeds. The vines got to about thirty feet long, tried to eat my garden shed and covered over a fence and tried to take over the banana patch as well. They not only produced lima beans, but a LOT of lima beans. Probably about a five gallon bucket's worth of lima beans. They lasted for several years, too, not just a season and then died off.

The Christmas lima beans lost their red colors when they were cooked and they didn't taste as nice as I'd hoped, so choose a variety that you like the taste of. They were extremely vigorous and productive, though!
ediblelandscape
Original Author
6 years ago
I had so many Lima beans I got tired of them. The best are the bush Limas that are small with a tender skin. But they are annuals. Some day I'll grow some more! I recently moved back to my place in Makawao. The wetter weather is not so conducive to powdery mildew. I have large tomato and pepper vines. I went to a garden in Kihei and the powdery mildew had ravaged the tomatoes. guess it is just something hot weather climates have to put up with.
Related Discussions
Fresh Lima beans turn purple when cooked?
Q
Comments (15)
There are likely 50-60 different types of beans that are generically called "limas", they come in both both and pole varieties, and there are at least 25 different colors. Vermont Bean and Seed Company is a good online source of info and pics as is Cook's Thesaurus (linked below) of many of the varieties. To further complicate the problem, many refer to the southern peas, field peas, and butter beans as "limas". So, without knowing the actual name on the seed packet of the variety you planted it will be difficult to pin them down. The 2 most common home garden varieties are Henderson and Fordhooks but neither of them turn purple when cooked. They go green. But they will interact with aluminum pans (Revere ware and the like) and take on a lavender cast to them. I suspect that is what you are seeing. If you cook in stainless steel, they should go green. If they don't then you have some other variety. Hope this helps. Dave
...See More
snow peas or lima beans...
Q
Comments (7)
Snow peas do look like regular peas, or worst, sugar snap peas, when they are over mature. Lima beans are much larger and wider pods and have a noticable oval bump where the beans are. A few years ago, I made the mistake of planting snow peas and sugar snaps right next to each other. It was not an easy task to seperate, but at least both had edible pods for a while before they get tough. This is my second year of growing limas and these are much different. Most get pickled at one time, as the plants usually produce about 75% of their crop all at maturity. There is nothing like the taste of a fresh cooked lima. Even for that, if they get too big, they are still not tough, and the beans are now called butter beans as they turn a bit yellow color. My second crop of regular peas (non edible pod) is now about 2 inches tall, and should hopefully produce here before a real frost sets in.
...See More
pls suggest lima, cow pea & dry bean for kid garden...
Q
Comments (9)
if you send me a sase (with enough postage for 1.5 oz) & i'll send you some beans--willow-leaf limas, mississippi silver cowpeas, rattlesnake beans, and various yardlong beans. all of them grow very well here in fla. all are very productive and disease free or resistant. all of them (even the cowpeas) love trellises. an inexpensive trellis can be made in minutes from three pieces of 10 foot electrical conduit (galvanized--$3 at lowes) and two 90 degree elbows (i use the heavy-duty plastic ones, $1 each). make a ten foot by ten foot u-shaped trellis, drive it into the ground a couple of feet (you can just push it through the sand). run a line of twine along the bottom and then run twine in zigzags from top to bottom. tahdum. the ten-dollar,ten-minute trellis. i have grown countless beans on such trellises. my address: mad 723 n amelia ave deland, 32724
...See More
My Lima bean teepee
Q
Comments (2)
I will sure update with pic's asap. Things hectic here and I have been gone for 2 weeks, so ya can imagine what my garden looks like. YIKES is right! Pic's soon
...See More
spencerwillis90
6 years ago
i grow lablab beans. they seem to be the most prolific and use able bean i grow. i would love to try the perennial lima bean but haven't found seed for it yet! lablab is a perennial vine. great for dry beans if you forget to harvest in time, they stay one the vine for a long time before they start to decompose. effortless endless supply of beans!

Related Stories

COASTAL STYLE How to Make Your Oceanfront Garden Thrive

By Steve Asbell

You may love the beach, but many plants don't. Learn which ones are best for your warm-weather oceanside garden getaway

SUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Summer Crops: How to Grow Beans

By Marianne Lipanovich

Grow your own beans for amazing variety and healthy, convenient produce all summer

FUN HOUZZ What You Do When There’s No One Around

By Karen Bofinger

Ice cream binges, air guitar concerts, napping in the closet. Houzzers worldwide disclose their quirky secret indulgences

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Easy Edibles for First-Time Gardeners

By Marianne Lipanovich

Focus on these beginner-friendly vegetables, herbs, beans and salad greens to start a home farm with little fuss

MATERIALS Mesquite: The Brawny Beauty for All Over the Home

By Karen Peterson

Denser than other hardwoods and sporting beautiful coloration, mesquite makes a fine material for flooring, countertops, furniture and more

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

HEALTHY HOME 16 Ideas for a Healthy, Feel-Good Home

By Laura Gaskill

Making these small tweaks and bigger shifts at home can help you thrive everywhere you go

GARDENING GUIDES Essential Watering Tips for Your Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

To give your edible plants just what they need, check out these guidelines for how, when and how much to water

FARM YOUR YARD Advice on Canyon Farming From L.A.'s Vegetable Whisperer

By Annie Thornton

See how a screened garden house and raised beds help an edible garden in a Los Angeles canyon thrive

HEALTHY HOME What You Need to Know About Dust and How to Fight It

By Mitchell Parker

Breathe easier with these 10 tips for busting mites, dander and other microscopic undesirables

Sponsored