How to Grow Lima Bean Seeds

Prepare a sunny location in your garden that receives at least six hour of direct sunlight.

Till the garden soil to a depth of 8 inches with a rototiller. Remove any large rocks and debris from the soil, and rake it smooth.

Adjust the soil pH level to between 6.0 and 7.0, using soil amendments such as lime or sulfur. Follow the directions on the soil amendments to ensure that you add them properly. You can purchase a pH level testing kit at most home improvement and garden stores.

Add 2 inches of compost to the top of the soil. Work it into the top 4 inches of the soil.

Allow the threat of frost to pass completely. Wait for the soil to stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit before you plant the lima bean seeds.

Sow the lima beans 1 inch deep in the soil. Space them according to the cultivar. For instance, bush lima beans need to be spaced 6 inches apart, whereas large pole varieties need to be spaced 10 inches apart. Provide a trellis for pole varieties to climb.

Water the garden soil to keep it moist until the seedlings sprout. The seeds will germinate within seven to 10 days. Water the lima beans weekly to saturate the soil.

Keep the soil loose by cultivating between the rows with a hand tiller. Remove the weeds from the plants with a garden hoe or pull them out of the ground.

Add a high nitrogen fertilizer to the plants before they begin to produce fruit. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer and apply it along the rows, 4 inches away from the base of the lima bean plants.

Harvest the lima beans when the pods are fat and plump. The beans will appear visible through the pod and the pods will appear green in color.