What Is a Willow Leaf Pole Bean?

Origins and Growth

• The willow leaf pole bean, also called willow leaf lima bean, originates in South America in Guatemala, according to University of Florida Extension. Lima bean plants produce pods filled with creamy white seeds ideal for drying and storage. The willow leaf pole bean resembles other common lima bean plants. The difference lies in the shape of the leaf. Willow leaf pole beans produce narrow, willowlike leaves instead of the large, flat leaves familiar on most bean plants.

Pole Beans

• Pole beans get their name from the vining growth pattern. Poles, driven into the soil next to the plants, provides a structure for the plant to climb. In contrast, bush beans form self-supported bushes. Willow leaf pole beans grow 6 feet tall and produce pods 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. Create a tripod-shaped structure using three or four bamboo canes or poles spaces 1 to 2 feet apart at the bottom and tied together at the top.

Planting Seeds

• Plant willow leaf pole bean seeds directly into the garden bed. Lima beans germinate quickly and resent transplanting making them ideal for direct sowing. Test the soil in spring using a soil thermometer and plant the seeds when the soil warms up to 65 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Plant the bean seeds 4 to 6 inches apart and and 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. Plants require 90 days to mature for harvest.

Cultivation

• Keep the soil around willow leaf pole beans free of weeds with frequent hand weeding. Use a hoe or other weeding tool with caution to avoid damaging the delicate surface roots. Supply each plant with 1 inch of water per week to keep the soil consistently damp. Plant willow leaf pole beans in hummus rich, well draining soil. Avoid nitrogen fertilizers, like other legumes, lima peans fix nitrogen in the soil. Excess nitrogen stresses the plants and can cause flower bud drop, according to Plants for a Future Database.