Plants with missing cotyledons will be stunted and grow slowly. When handling transplants avoid breaking off the cotyledons (Figure 2) which store energy and nutrients for the growing seedling. When seedlings have fully expanded their primary leaves (as in Figures 1 & 2) they should be moved to a protected outdoor location to harden-off for about 7 days. After emergence, transplants can be moved off of heat mats if in a warm location. If you provide ideal conditions for germination you will soon (4 days) see those green hypocotyls arching out of the potting media. Maintain soil temperatures at ~80☏ for quickest emergence. Water very well after seeding and keep media moist but not wet until plants have emerged. Transplants should be grown in a greenhouse or other warm, high light location. I guess I am wishy-washy because I plant them laying flat on their sides! Maintaining proper moisture and temperature is probably more important than seed orientation. I have been asked many times whether I plant my pole limas “eye up” or “eye down”. Avoid using potting media that is formulated for seed starting this type of media is designed for germination of small-seeded crops and stays wetter than ideal for pole beans.įigure 1. Use pasteurized potting media to reduce incidence of seedling diseases. Styrofoam cups can make a good pole bean seedling pot if you poke a hole in the bottom to provide drainage. I use the 2.5 inch square pots pictured below (Figure 1). Use pots with a diameter of 2.5-3 inches. It is not necessary to keep pole beans in pots longer than it takes for the seedlings to emerge and fully expand their primary leaves. For mid-May planting, I seed the last week of April.
Because of their large seeds, which store lots of energy for the seedling, pole bean transplants grow quickly and the time from seeding to transplant is short, about three weeks. I aim for a mid-May planting in my research plots in Georgetown, Delaware. Pole lima beans should be transplanted after the danger of frost. Fully dry seed should be stored in a sealed container (such as a lidded jar) in the refrigerator for maximum longevity and vigor.
POLE LIMA BEAN FREE
Plant seeds that are free of obvious damage from fungi and insects. Pole lima bean seed can be difficult to procure and consequently many growers save their own seed. Here are some tips for successful production of pole lima transplants. This is because seed is expensive and sometimes hard to procure and because plants are spaced at 4 to 6 feet in the row. Unlike most legume crops, pole lima beans are usually transplanted into the field. Emmalea Ernest, Scientist – Vegetable & Fruit Crops pole lima beans are a unique crop produced by direct market growers and home gardeners in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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