Beans, Beans, do we have the Beans. Bush lima beans has different varieties, which include Cangreen, Fordhook, Henderson Bush, Jackson Wonder Speckled, Speckled Butterpeas and White Butterpeas. Germination temperature: 70 F to 80 F - Germination is slow and poor when soil temperatures are below 60 F. Days to emergence: 8 to 10 - Germination may take two weeks or more if soil temperatures are below 60 F. Germination is poor when soil temperature is below 60 F. Cold air temperatures (even above freezing) can injure plants and reduce yields. Do you know anyone who has spilled the beans? Do not plant until danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Plant bush lima beans seed one inch deep (deeper if soil is dry), about 2 inches apart, in rows 18 to 36 inches apart. Soaking beans to hasten germination may damage seeds. Do not start seed inside. For a steady supply of bush lima beans, make successive plantings until mid- to late July. Relay-crop beans following harvest of cool-season crops, such as lettuce, spinach and peas. Beans require even moisture - about 1 inch per week - especially when flowering and developing pods. If you water, avoid wetting foliage, which encourages disease. Water early in the day so foliage dries quickly. Mulch after second set of true leaves develops to help retain moisture. Do not use nitrogen fertilizers. Inoculating seed with rhizobium bacteria may increase yields, especially in soils where beans have not been grown before. Pod set is often poor when temperatures exceed 90 F. Deformed pods may be the result of lack of moisture, poor soil fertility or insect damage during blooming. A three-year rotation can help reduce some diseases. Bush lima beans mature between 65 to 78 days