How to Grow Lima Beans With Aquaponics

Set up your aquaponic tank, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Add the proper number of cold water fish, such as goldfish, to your tank. The number of fish your tank can support depends on the size of the tank and the amount of water it holds. Consult the directions for your aquaponic system for setting up the proper fish environment. Once you have established your fish farm environment, it is time to plant the lima beans.

Place a piece of chicken wire over the area of the tank allotted for your bean plants. Attach the edges of the chicken wire to the dry area at the top or along the outer sides of the tank with duct tape or wire. Set the chicken wire level with the surface of the water.

Soak seed-start peat sponges in warm water until they expand fully. Press a lima bean seed into the center of each peat sponge, inserting it to a depth that measures about twice its diameter. Use your fingertip to scrape the dampened peat over the top of each seed. Place the peat sponges on top of the chicken wire. The sponges will stay damp as they continue to absorb water from the surface of the aquaponic environment.

Watch your bean seeds begin to sprout. Germination and sprouting usually occur within a week. Keep the water in the aquaponic tank level with the chicken wire that serves to support the peat sponges. Continue to feed your fish and maintain the aquaponic environment as the beans grow. Attach any leaning bean plants to wooden posts placed outside the tank, using soft twine to hold them in place. Harvest your beans as soon as they ripen. Remove the bean plants when they stop producing beans. Replace the old plants with new seedlings, leaving the chicken wire in place as a plant support.