Europeans first learned about the existence of lima beans in the city of Lima in Peru. This is where the name of the plant comes from. In countries with warm climates, the plant has been cultivated for a long time. In our country, even in the southern regions: in the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory, it occupies small areas.
Benefit
Gardeners in central Russia began the gradual development of lima beans. Growing the plant is not particularly difficult. The benefits of eating beans are enormous, due to their rich vitamin and mineral composition, the presence of fiber and vegetable protein. Fiber or coarse dietary fiber has a beneficial effect on digestion processes and helps cleanse the intestines.
Beans, which belong to the legume family, have long been known to vegetarians as a valuable product, especially lima beans, which are rich in protein. Only if there is protein in the diet, our body forms new tissue cells. Magnesium, potassium, manganese are quite rare microelements that are contained in beans. They have a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, normalize cholesterol levels in the blood.
Description of the plant
“Food meat, butter meat, butter meat,” is what they say about lima beans. Indeed, the fruits have a pleasant buttery taste. It’s not for nothing that beans are considered the main breadwinner in their homeland.
Lima bean Sweet bean grows quite large, about 1.4-1.6 meters.
The fruits are large, curved pods, 9-11 cm long, containing from 3 to 5 seeds of a soft greenish or white-green color. The beans are round, flattened. The skin of the Sweet Bean fruit is thin and envelops the tender, fleshy pulp of the beans. The greatest benefit to the body is when consuming beans at milky ripeness, when they have not become coarse. Protein is then absorbed best.
Fruits of biological ripeness are suitable for further long-term storage. Many people believe that the taste of ripe beans is much worse, and longer heat treatment is required.
The fruits of the Sweet Bean variety can be fried and stewed. The taste does not change if the beans are canned or frozen. Fresh fruits have a pleasant buttery-creamy taste. They fill you up quickly, and the feeling of fullness will last for a long time.
Growing
Gardeners who have experience growing regular beans will be able to grow lima beans. The best predecessors for Sweet Beans: potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins.
For lima beans, light, well-warmed soils are best suited, through which air and water can easily flow to the roots. Sandy loam soils are most suitable for Sweet Bean. When choosing a place for Sweet Bean, keep in mind that the variety loves the sun and does not like stagnant moisture in the soil.
The soil is dug up, manure and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are added. So, over the winter they become part of the soil and are better absorbed by plants. Lima beans have better fruit set, the plant tolerates irregular watering and withstands unfavorable conditions.
In the spring, the soil is dug up again and ash is added.Sweet bean seeds are planted in open ground only if return frosts have passed and the soil has warmed to +15 degrees. Focus on the climatic conditions of your region. Approximate time for planting: second half - end of May.
Plant the seeds no deeper than 4-5 cm, at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. Water well, the surface can be mulched with peat. The first shoots will appear after 1.5-2 weeks.
A fence can be used as a support, then lima beans will become an element of landscape design, forming a hedge.
80-90 days after germination, the first fruits will appear, which are harvested as they ripen and depending on the stage of desired maturity.
The Sweet Bean variety can also be planted as seedlings. Time to plant seeds for seedlings: early April.
The plant develops well and bears fruit at a temperature of +20+25 degrees. Water the plants regularly, especially if there is a dry period, otherwise, if there is a lack of moisture, the leaves and fruit ovaries will fall off. Lima beans respond well to fertilization with ash and infusion of green plants. For this purpose nettles, weeds from the garden or other plants, pour water, leave for a week, then dilute with clean water 1:10 and water the Sweet Bean.
Lima beans are practically not threatened by pests; moreover, they themselves repel uninvited guests.
Conclusion
Sweet bean is well suited for growing in the garden.Following simple agricultural practices will provide you with a unique product rich in protein and valuable microelements.
