Heat Affects Early Lima Beans

Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu

We are seeing heat effects on early planted lima beans again in 2012, with heavy bud, blossom, and pod drop. A split set is also present because of changes from high heat where pod set was limited to more moderate temperatures favoring pod set back to high heat again causing pod loss. Another problem is misshapen pods and irregular, dimpled, or misshapen seed which may be caused by incomplete pollination due to the heat or direct piercing/sucking insect damage to the seed.