How to grow Lima (Butter) Beans in Australia
Plant in full sun in warm, well-drained soil after all frost has passed. Provide a trellis for climbing types, or grow bush types unsupported.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 20 cm
- Time to harvest: 90 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to January | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to January | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec once the soil passes 18°C. Seed rots in cold wet ground, and the 90 day crop needs to finish before nights cool. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost tender. Sow Oct to Dec into warm soil once frosts finish. No autumn sowing; the crop must finish before the May frosts. |
| Adelaide & SA | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec into warm soil. Needs a longer, warmer run than French beans; flowers drop in heatwaves, so water deeply. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Sow Sep to Nov into warm soil so pods set before the worst heat. Water deeply through flowering. |
| Tasmania | November and December | Marginal. Lima beans need warm soil, so sow Nov to Dec in the warmest bed. Cool summers slow pod fill; no autumn sowing. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Frost tender. Sow Nov to Dec into warm soil after the last frost in early November. Later sowings will not ripen before the April frosts. |
| North Queensland | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug for bush butter beans, as for green beans. The climbing Madagascar type is tougher and can go in from Feb to Oct. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug for bush butter beans, as for green beans. The climbing Madagascar type is tougher and can go in from Feb to Oct. |
Varieties
- Fordhook (Bush)
- Climbing Butter Bean
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when pods feel full and the beans bulge clearly inside. Snap or cut the pods off, and frequent picking keeps the plant flowering and setting more.
Storage
Fresh shelled beans 3 to 4 days in the fridge; dried beans a year or more.