Lima Bean 'Dr. Martin'

We live in the Ozark, Mo area and have raised the Dr. Martin lima bean for the past 15 years here. This year seems to have been our bes...Read Moret year yet, so far that is. We have chosen to space the rows 6 feet apart and 5 feet apart in the rows with 2 to 3 plants at each pole. We set a heavy pole at each end of the row and then use 1 1/2 to 2 inch ceder "bean" poles at each hill.
One thing that I do not see discussed is the pruning of the vines to control the heavy growth. I have been cutting off many of the side shoots in an attempt to do this, and still have more pod hanger stems. I have yet to find any bean pods that have 5 beans in them Mostly 2 - 4 beans per pod.
I am wondering if I need to get new fresh seeds for next year, as I have saved these seeds for 3 years now.
What insect sprays do you all find the best to control the bugs?

The spacing given for Dr. Martin Lima Beans will drive people crazy! People in this area (southern Delaware) use five feet (that's right,...Read More 60 inches!) and we still have trouble finding the beans! Please try five feet between plants and five feet between rows. They require strong poles (my beans are now at 7-10 feet up) and very strong bracing at the end of each row. Poly baling twine makes a good way to strengthen the poles and give the beans something to climb on. I tag the pods that have five beans and save them for seed. Any with two-four get harvested as soon as they fill out. Huge beans, huge flavor, tender and good for you. And if you have trouble with fungus on saved seed, keep them in an air conditioned room. No problem.

Hi, I'm a interested gardener about this particular type of lima, and if anyone has some and would be willing to share, I'd really apprec...Read Moreiate it. I sell garden seeds, I'm with Ozark Mountain Seeds and would like to start growing and selling this bean. :) You can visit my website at ozarkmountainseeds.com or contact my e-mail at ozmtnseeds@yahoo.com

I have been growing this bean for over 30 years.

Dr. Martin Lima was actually developed by a physician many years ago. Wh...Read Moreere and why is obscure, but I found the seeds somehow and ordered them from a couple in New Jersey who had been working with them for years. Then one of them became ill and their operation stopped.

I live near the coast in Virginia and as a result it is very hard to save seeds of any kind due to the humidity, which results in a lot of fungual growth. However, with the use of near constant fungicides seeds can be saved. It is better (here) to gather the seed just as the pods come to full maturity, shell them and put them down in a fungicidal powder until they dry.

Never plant different limas close to each other because although they are self-fruitful, bumble bees will, and do, cross pollinate them.

This year I planted previously grown and potted plants about 18 inches apart and found even this to be too thick. The vines run like crazy, even going across the ground. They can easily reach a length of 12-14 feet. The problem is that on a trellis low enough for one to harvest them they mat at the top and this adds to the fungus problem.

Dr. Martin Limas won't set fruit when the temperatures get much over 90 degrees, tending to wait until late summer to produce. As has been said, the pods are huge, but never bear more than 3 beans per pod. One should wait until the pod has a slight leathery feel before harvesting, lest they be hard to shell and the fruit immature.

They are delicious and everyone I have offered them to says the same.