ABSTRACT
I. LIMA BEAN Green lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) are grown for home use, for fresh market, and for canning and freezing in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and elsewhere. The origin of the lima bean is tropical America (1). Both small-seeded and large-seeded types of lima beans have climbing bush or dwarf forms. Lima bean is a tender plant that cannot withstand frost, and seed germination requires temperatures well above 15.5°C. It also requires a longer growing season than the common varieties of snap beans. Unlike snap beans, it is grown for seed. Pole varieties require a longer season than do bush varieties.
