How to Plant Pole Lima Bean Seeds

All bean plants come in two basic growing varieties, bush and pole climbing. The bush bean grows just as the name implies -- the plants resemble a small bush and rarely exceed 30 inches in height. The pole-climbing variety can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet tall. Typically, these pole varieties will also yield more beans per plant. Of course, bean yield will fully depend on the plant variety and the type of soil it is grown in. Pole lima beans are fast-growing plants with excellent yields of large, edible beans.

3 poles, 3/4 inch in diameter and 6 to 8 feet long
24 inches of string or outdoor twine
Small hand cultivator
Pole lima bean seeds, 12 per pole arrangement)
Garden hose

Instructions

- 1
  Collect the three poles at one end and lay them on the ground. Wind the 24-inch piece of string or twine around the poles several times, about a foot from one end. Leave enough of the twine to tie a secure knot in the string, to hold the poles in place as a tight bundle.
- 2
  Stand the pole arrangement in an area of the garden that has been properly tilled. Spread the legs apart, with between 18 and 24 inches between each leg. The pole arrangement should mimic a tripod design. Push each leg into the soil about 6 to 8 inches deep.
- 3
  Use the small hand cultivator and work up the soil around each pole leg. The softer the soil, the faster the bean seed will germinate. Plant the lima bean seeds around each pole, with four seeds for each tripod leg. Position the seeds in a uniform fashion around each pole.
- 4
  Water the seeds into the ground with the garden hose. Keep the soil moist as the lima bean seeds begin to germinate. The plants will wrap themselves around the legs of the tripod as they reach for the sunlight.

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