How to Grow Pole Limas

Locate a well-draining site in your backyard with full sunlight exposure. Loosen the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and add 1 cup of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 50 feet of row space. Plant lima beans two weeks after the average frost date in your area, when the soil temperature remains consistently at 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant pole bean seeds 7 to 10 inches apart in rows spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. Plant each seed 1/2 inch deep in heavy soils, or 1 inch deep in light soils.

Insert stakes into the ground directly after planting pole bean seeds. Use 6- to 7-foot-tall wooden stakes that allow the beans to climb over the rough surfaces easily. Depending on personal preference, join the tops of three or four stakes to form a tepee trellis, with their lower ends inserted 1 foot deep in the ground, or insert a pole at each end of a row and stretch parallel lengths of wires along them. Pound a small stake behind each pole lima that supports the plant until it reaches the lowest trellis wire. At this point, snip the terminal vines to assist branching. Train the pole limas to climb the vertical support structure using strips of nylon to assist ascent.

Provide the lima beans with 1 inch of water every week, from the time buds develop until pods set. However, forgo irrigation if supplemented by rainfall. Avoid overwatering the plants because excessive moisture leads of malformed pods.

Inspect the planting site frequently for weeds and remove carefully with a hoe. Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the plants, after the soil has warmed, to deter weeds and retain soil moisture. Avoid direct contact between the mulch and plant to prevent rot problems.

Spray mild insecticidal soapy solution on pests such as aphids, grasshoppers, spider mites, scale or leafhoppers. Rake plant debris from the base of the plants and adopt appropriate cultural practices to keep pest infestations at bay.