About this seed
Product Overview: Grow lima beans from a packet of 15 Small Brown Lima Bean seeds. The botanical identity is Phaseolus lunatus, an accepted species in the legume family, Fabaceae. ‘Small Brown’ describes the seed lot offered here; it is not presented as a verified registered cultivar name. Lima beans are also widely called butter beans, but varieties within the species can differ in seed colour, growth habit, time to harvest, and adaptation.
- Botanical name: Phaseolus lunatus L.
- Family: Fabaceae
- Crop type: Warm-season shell bean
- Packet quantity: 15 seeds
- Recorded seed description: Small brown
Growing from Seed
Sowing time: Lima beans need warm growing conditions. Direct-sow after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed; cold, wet soil can delay germination and encourage seed decay. The best calendar date depends on local climate, so use the last-frost guidance for your area rather than a fixed month. A full-sun position gives plants the light needed for steady growth and pod development.
Soil preparation: Choose loose, well-drained soil that holds useful moisture without remaining waterlogged. University of Georgia Extension notes that lima beans prefer well-drained soil and do not need excessively rich ground. Work the bed before sowing, remove competing perennial weeds, and avoid heavy applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer, which can favour leafy growth over flowering and pods. In containers, use a large pot with drainage holes and fresh, free-draining growing medium.
Sowing and spacing: Plant the seeds at the depth and spacing recommended locally for lima beans, then firm the soil gently and water it. Keep the seedbed evenly moist during germination, but do not leave it saturated. This lot is not documented as a bush or pole type, so do not plan the entire layout around an assumed habit. Leave practical working space, watch the young plants as they develop, and install a trellis or other support if they begin to climb.
Routine care: Water at soil level when possible, especially as flowers and pods develop. Deep, measured watering is preferable to repeatedly wetting only the surface. A light organic mulch can reduce evaporation after the soil is warm, but keep it away from the stems. Remove weeds carefully while plants are young. Good spacing and airflow, clean tools, and avoiding unnecessary wetting of foliage can help reduce disease pressure.
Flowering and harvest: Lima beans form pods containing the developing beans. For fresh shell beans, harvest when pods are well filled but before they become dry and brittle. Open a sample pod to judge development rather than relying only on pod length or a promised number of days, because this lot has no verified cultivar-specific maturity period. For dry beans, allow pods and beans to mature fully, then dry and store the shelled beans under suitable food-storage conditions. The pod itself is not marketed here as an edible snap bean.
Food-safety note: The contents of this packet are sold as planting seed, not as food. Do not eat the packet seed. Harvested lima beans should not be eaten raw or undercooked; cook them thoroughly and follow current authoritative food-safety guidance. The US Food and Drug Administration identifies naturally occurring toxins as a concern in some beans, including lima beans, so proper preparation matters.
What You Receive: One labelled packet containing 15 Small Brown Lima Bean seeds. This listing supplies seeds only, not seedlings, fresh pods, or prepared beans. Germination speed, plant habit, yield, and harvest timing vary with seed condition, soil temperature, climate, spacing, and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a bush or pole lima bean?
No bush or pole habit is specified for this packet. Observe the plants as they grow and provide support if they develop long climbing shoots. This avoids assigning a cultivar trait that has not been documented for the lot.
Are lima beans and butter beans the same plant?
Both names are commonly used for beans within Phaseolus lunatus. Regional usage and cultivar names vary, so the botanical name is the clearest identity for this listing.
Can the packet seeds be eaten?
No. They are supplied for planting and are not packaged as food. Any beans harvested for the kitchen must be properly identified, handled, and thoroughly cooked according to reliable food-safety guidance.