Burpee's Improved Bush Lima

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sink your spoon into Burpee's Improved Bush Lima for a velvety, buttery bite with a clean, sweet-green flavor that feels lush even before the first simmer.

The compact bush habit brings dependable pods and tender, creamy beans at about 70 days, with a smooth, meaty texture that shines in classic lima preparations and rich, spoonable sauces. Grow this reliable favorite for abundant harvests that reward fresh pods and pantry-worthy batches alike.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Burpee's Improved Bush Lima

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Burpee’s Improved Bush Lima is built for that spoonable stage: once simmered, the beans go from tender to silky without getting chalky. Use a fat-forward base (butter or bacon) and keep acidity restrained—this variety wants to stay lush and creamy.

Best Uses

buttery simmered lima beans with a spoon-thick finish
rich succotash-style skillet (go easy on acidic punch so the beans stay plush)
folding into creamy bean purées for a spoonable side
thickening into ragù-like braises where they cook down without turning grainy

Flavor Profile

clean sweet-green flavor creamy, velvety bean texture mildly nutty savoriness

Kitchen Pairings

chicken stock garlic butter smoked bacon lemon parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Burpee’s Improved Bush Lima beans developing brown, scorched leaves and tiny webbing, and how do I fix it?

This pattern is often spider mites, which thrive in hot, dry conditions and cause stippling that turns leaves brown. Hose the undersides of leaves with a strong spray, then repeat every 2–3 days for a week to knock them back. If damage is increasing, apply insecticidal soap (cover leaf undersides) and reapply according to the label every 5–7 days until new growth is clean.

How often should I water Burpee’s Improved Bush Lima beans during flowering and pod fill?

During main growth (after plants establish and especially when flowering starts), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot. Check 2 inches down; water when it’s just barely dry at that depth. Avoid letting the soil swing from dry to flooded, since uneven moisture can reduce pod set.

How can I tell when Burpee’s Improved Bush Lima beans are ready to harvest?

Harvest for shelled “fresh lima” when pods are well-filled, about 2–3 inches long, and the beans look creamy and are no longer flat-looking (around 70 days). For a tender, sweet result, pick them as soon as the beans reach full size rather than waiting for hard, dry seeds. If you’re growing for dry beans, leave pods on the plant until they turn tan and papery and the beans rattle inside, then dry them indoors before storing.