How to Harvest & Dry Butter Beans

Butter beans, also known as lima beans, are popular in Southern cuisine. After thriving in full sun, they are harvested in about 65 to 80 days. After harvesting, butter beans can be dried out to use throughout the winter season and into the next springtime. Harvesting and drying out this bean variety requires simple kitchen materials and little manual labor.

String
Water
Paper towel
Airtight storage containers

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the butter bean pods to ensure they are ready for harvesting. Do this by rubbing the butter bean pod in your fingers. It should be bright green and feel tender and plump. The pods should be so plump that they are touching each other, which is the perfect time to pick them.
- 2
  Pick butter beans in the morning after any dew has dried. You don't want to pick them while moist because this can damage them. Gently pluck them by the stem to harvest.
- 3
  Hang the pods upside down in bunches from string to dry out for two to three days before opening the pods.
- 4
  Shell the butter bean pod by holding it in both hands and twisting until the beans pop out. Soak the beans for about a minute in warm water to clean. Let dry on a paper towel.
- 5
  Store the beans in airtight containers in a dry, warm environment until you are ready to cook them.

Growth & Development of a Lima Bean

What Are the Stages of Bean Seed Growth?

Growing Beans