Vegetables - Lima Bean
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  I’d like to ask some questions about lima beans or the lack of the same. This last year I planted some Virginia Seva type limas and the results were to say the least disastrous. The first seed I used only came up weakly and sparsely, so I got some more from another source. They were up in three days and grew well. They produced lots of foliage but I only got a hand full of beans. No insects were noted leaves weren’t damaged, but no beans. I planted them in spot that got what I thought was adequate sun in a bed of topsoil and watered regularly. What do I need most, fertilizer, sun, better seeds? I can’t go another year without beans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

  Lima beans like warm soil conditions. Last spring was a cool, wet one, and many of our plants got a late start. That is more than likely why you had your initial crop failure. Lima beans like warm soil and slightly sweet soil -- at least a pH over 6.0. Make sure you don’t overdo it with nitrogen or organic matter around beans, or you end up with all vine to the exclusion of beans. As long as you have at least six hours of sunlight a day, and you’re not impatient to plant, you should be able to get beans next season.

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