For the first time, Europeans learned about the existence of lima beans in the city of Lima in Peru. Hence the name of the plant. In countries with a warm climate, 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 Our Country began the gradual development of lima beans. Growing a plant is not particularly difficult. The benefits of eating beans for food are enormous, due to the rich vitamin and mineral composition, the presence of fiber and vegetable protein. Fiber or coarse dietary fibers have a beneficial effect on digestion processes, help 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 in the presence of protein in the diet, our body forms new tissue cells. Magnesium, potassium, manganese are quite rare trace elements found in beans. They have a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, normalize blood cholesterol levels.
Description of the plant
“Meat from the garden, creamy meat, buttery,” is what they say about lima beans. Indeed, the fruits have a pleasant taste of butter. It is 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 pale greenish or white-green color. The beans are rounded, flattened. The peel of the fruit of the sweet bean is thin, enveloping the tender fleshy pulp of the bean. The greatest benefit for the body is when eating beans in milky ripeness, when they are not coarsened. Protein is then best absorbed.
Fruits of biological ripeness are suitable for further long-term storage. Many 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, stewed. The taste does not change if the beans are canned or frozen. Fresh fruits have a pleasant buttery-creamy taste. They are quickly saturated, and the feeling of satiety will be long.
Cultivation
Gardeners who have experience growing common beans will be able to grow lima beans as well. The best predecessors for Sweet Bean: potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins.
For lima beans, light, well-warmed soils are best suited, through which air and water will freely flow to the roots. Sandy loamy soils are most suitable for Sweet Bean. When choosing a location for the Sweet Bean, keep in mind that the variety loves the sun and does not like stagnant soil moisture.
The earth is dug up, manure and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied. So, during 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 resists adverse conditions.
In the spring, the soil is dug up again and ash is added. Sweet bean seeds are planted in open ground, only on condition that the return frosts have passed and the soil has warmed up to +15 degrees. Focus on the climatic conditions of your region. Approximate landing time: second half – end of May.
Plant 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 the lima bean will become an element of landscape design, forming a hedge.
After 80-90 days after emergence, the first fruits will appear, which are harvested as they ripen and depending on the stage of desired maturity.
Variety Sweet bean can be planted with seedlings. Planting time 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, leaves and fruit ovaries will fall off. Lima beans respond well to ash fertilizer and green plant infusion. To do this, nettles, weeds from the garden or other plants are poured with water, insisted for a week, then diluted with clean water 1:10 and watered with Sweet Bean.
Lima beans are practically not threatened by pests; moreover, they themselves repel uninvited guests.
Conclusion
The sweet bean is well suited for growing in the backyard. Compliance with simple agricultural practices will provide you with a unique product rich in protein and valuable trace elements.