Phaseolus vulgaris (bush and pole snap beans); Phaseolus lunatus (lima bean) · Fabaceae (bean family)
Beans are an easy warm-season legume that grows even in poor soil. Bush beans stand on their own and bear early, pole beans climb a trellis and yield more from the same row (8 pounds per 10 feet against 4.5 for bush beans), and lima beans come in both bush and pole forms and stand a little more heat. Two things matter most: feed at half the usual rate, since extra nitrogen cuts the crop, and choose rust-resistant varieties.1, 2, 3
When to plant beans (bush, pole and lima) in Florida
1 to 1½ (SP 103, all three types); Gardening Solutions gives 1 to 2 for bush beans and about 1 for pole beans
Spacing in the row (inches)
bush 2 to 4; pole 3 to 5; lima 3 to 6
Between rows (inches)
bush 18 (Gardening Solutions: 18 to 30); pole 36; lima 18
Days to harvest
bush 45 to 60 (Gardening Solutions: about 50 to 60); pole 50 to 70; lima 60 to 80
SP 103 planting dates. Bush and pole: north Mar to Apr and Aug to Sept; central Feb to Apr and Aug to Sept; south Sept to Apr. Lima: north Mar to Aug; central Feb to Mar and Aug to Sept; south Sept to Apr. Do not soak bush bean seed; extra moisture can crack it and hurt germination. Put up the pole-bean trellis before sowing so the weak roots are not disturbed later.
At least 8 hours of full sun for bush beans; 6 to 8 hours for pole beans (Gardening Solutions).
Soil pH
5.8 to 6.3 (SP 103's general target for vegetable gardens on sandy soil; no change is needed anywhere from 5.5 to 7.0). No crop-specific figure was found.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist until the seed comes up, then water whenever the surface dries. Bean roots are weak, so weed shallowly.
Fertilizer
Use half the rate used for other vegetables; too much nitrogen gives leafy plants and fewer beans.
Bush bean flowers pollinate themselves. Pole and pole-type lima beans need a trellis or other support and can be grown up corn stalks. Lima beans are slightly more heat tolerant than bush or pole snap beans.
Bean rust: UF/IFAS advises rust-resistant varieties for all three types; Gardening Solutions calls rust resistance a must in Florida's humidity.
Stink bugs: They injure lima bean pods; SP 103 says to control them.
Bean leaf beetle, Mexican bean beetle, aphids and whiteflies: Listed among bean and pea pests in the commercial Vegetable Production Handbook (CV125), not a home-garden guide.
Pick snap beans while the pods are still tender, and pick often to keep plants bearing. Shell beans can be picked green for use right away or left to dry: let pods dry on the plant, or pull the vines once the leaves yellow and dry them indoors; the pods split and the seeds come out easily. Beans are easy to save for seed.
The FAO manual says both climbing and bush beans grow well in aquaponics, with climbing types preferred because they use less bed space and can yield 2 to 3 times more pods. Beans need little nitrate but moderate phosphorus and potassium, excess nitrate can delay flowering, and they are recommended for newly started systems. Sow directly into media beds 3 to 4 cm deep; beans transplant poorly, so NFT pipes are a poor fit. Plants stop growing below 12 to 14 °C and drop flowers above 35 °C. FAO does not discuss lima beans by name.
What this lesson doesn't cover yet
No UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions page for lima beans was found; lima figures come from SP 103 and the commercial handbook only.
No crop-specific soil pH figure was found; the pH line is SP 103's general garden target.
Your county extension office and its Florida Master Gardeners can fill these in for your garden.