How to grow Lima (Butter) Beans in Australia
Lima beans, also called butter beans or Madagascar beans, are warm-season legumes grown for their large, creamy seeds, eaten fresh-shelled or dried. Bush types crop in about 90 days; climbing types grow 1 to 5 m and crop longer. They need warm soil and a long, warm season, and the beans must always be cooked, as raw lima beans are toxic.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lima (Butter) Beans in Australia
At a glance
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. |
Not to be confused with: Beans, the common green or French beans eaten pod and all, and Broad Beans, a cool-season bean.
Where to plant
Plant lima beans in full sun in warm, well-drained soil once all frost has passed and the soil has warmed to about 18°C. The seed rots in cold, wet ground. They need a longer, warmer run than French beans, so in cool districts sow as soon as the soil is warm enough.
Like other legumes they make much of their own nitrogen, so dig in compost but skip high-nitrogen fertilisers. Rotate them with other crops rather than following beans or peas.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from September to January.
- Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide: sow from October to December once the soil is warm. The crop must finish before nights cool; in Adelaide water deeply, as flowers drop in heatwaves.
- Perth: sow from September to November so pods set before the worst heat, and water deeply through flowering.
- Canberra and Hobart: marginal. Sow in November and December into the warmest bed after the last frost. Later sowings will not ripen before autumn frosts.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow bush butter beans in the dry season, April to August. The tougher climbing Madagascar type can go in from February to October.
Choosing a variety
Bush lima beans, such as Fordhook, mature earlier and need no support, which suits shorter seasons. Climbing types, such as the climbing butter bean and the tropical Madagascar bean, grow 1 to 5 m on a trellis and crop over a longer period; the Madagascar bean is a vigorous, resilient climber for humid, warm climates and can take 24 to 26 weeks to crop.
How to plant
- Wait until the soil is warm, at least about 18°C, and frost has passed.
- Put up a trellis first for climbing types.
- Sow seed direct, 2 to 4 cm deep: about 20 cm apart for bush types, and up to 60 cm apart for vigorous climbers.
- Water once after sowing, then keep the soil just moist until seedlings emerge. Soggy, cold soil rots the seed.
- Guide climbing shoots onto the support.
Watering and feeding
Water steadily, especially while the plants flower and set pods. Dry soil and heatwaves make flowers drop. Water the soil rather than the leaves, which reduces mildew and rust.
Feed lightly, if at all. Compost dug in before sowing is usually enough, as beans make their own nitrogen; too much nitrogen gives leaf rather than pods.
Harvesting
For fresh beans, pick pods when they are plump and the beans inside have swollen but the pods are still green. Shell the beans out. For dried beans, leave the pods on the plant until they are dry and papery, then pick, shell and dry the beans further before storing them in a jar.
Always cook lima beans thoroughly. Raw lima beans are toxic and must be boiled for at least ten minutes. Do not eat them raw, including in salads.
Growing in pots
Bush lima beans grow in a pot at least 40 cm wide with quality potting mix. Climbing types need a large pot and a sturdy trellis or obelisk. Water regularly through flowering and podding.
Using it
Boil fresh shelled beans until tender and use them in salads once cooked, soups, stews and succotash. Dried beans are soaked, then boiled well before use. Canned lima beans are already cooked.
Companion planting
Lima beans fit into a summer bed of warm-season crops and leave nitrogen in the soil for the next crop.
Good companions
- Corn A tall summer crop that grows in the same season; climbing types can scramble up nearby corn or share its trellis line.
- Cucumber Another summer crop that wants the same warm soil and steady water.
- Sunflower Tall stems give climbing beans extra support, and the flowers bring in bees.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to lima (butter) beans.
- Onion The onion family is traditionally kept away from beans, which are said to grow poorly beside them. The evidence is thin, but it is easy to give them separate beds.
Pests and diseases
Lima beans share the pests and diseases of other summer beans.
Pests to watch for
- Bean fly Seedlings wilt and collapse, with swollen stems near the soil where maggots tunnel. Worst in warm, humid areas.
- Aphids Clusters of small dark insects on shoot tips and flower stems. Hose them off.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery patches on the leaves late in the season.
- Rust Small, rusty brown spots under the leaves, which yellow and drop, in warm, humid weather. Water the soil, not the leaves.
Common questions
Are lima beans poisonous raw?
Yes. Raw lima beans are toxic and must be boiled for at least ten minutes before eating. Canned lima beans are already cooked.
When should I plant lima beans?
Once the soil is warm, about 18°C, and frost has passed: September to January in south east Queensland, October to December in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and November to December in Canberra and Hobart. In the tropics, sow bush types in the dry season.
Are lima beans and butter beans the same?
Yes. Lima bean, butter bean and Madagascar bean are all names for Phaseolus lunatus, though the name butter bean is also used for some yellow-podded French beans.
How long do lima beans take to grow?
Bush types take about 90 days. Climbing types take longer, and the tropical Madagascar bean can take 24 to 26 weeks.
Why are my lima bean flowers falling off?
Heat, heatwaves or dry soil at flowering. Water deeply and steadily through flowering, and sow early enough that pods set before the worst of the summer heat.
Do lima beans need a trellis?
Bush types do not. Climbing types grow 1 to 5 m and need a strong trellis or fence.
Sources we checked: Wikipedia: Lima bean; Happy Valley Seeds: Climbing Madagascar lima bean.