Why Are My Lima Beans Pods Empty?

Are there any holes in the pods?

Did you added nitrogen to the soil?

Was the weather unusually hot recently?

Are the pods shriveled?

Are there any oval, light green, or brown bugs present?

Are the empty pods exposed to direct sunlight?

Lycaenidae pod borers or corn earworms will make an entry hole in the pod and then proceed to eat the seeds inside the pod. Both are grub-like caterpillars that turn into tiny butterflies. Control them with Bacillus thuringiensis (BTK). Bag and destroy infested pods. Encourage natural enemies such as Trichogramma wasps.

Like all legumes, lima beans fix nitrogen so these they don’t need that extra dose from fertilizer. A surplus of nitrogen will give them lush foliage but won’t do much in the way of bean production.

Hot days and hot nights dry the plant out and reduce the seed numbers or result in underdeveloped seeds (flat pods). This is more prevalent in large-seeded pole lima beans. Irrigate regularly during hot periods but don't wet the foliage to prevent downy mildew.

Tarnished plant bugs and their nymphs may inject lima beans pods with plant deforming toxin. Keep the garden clean. Exclude bugs with floating row covers. Spray with insecticidal soap.

Lack of moisture causes pods to shrivel. If the first seeds begin to develop in the pod and then the pods shrivel, give beans a slow, deep watering until the soil is wet to at least 5 inches (check with a trowel). Mulch planting beds to maintain even soil moisture. Water again when the soil is dry to 4 inches.

Sunscald is the result of overexposure to the sun. Pods become streaked or spotted reddish or pale brown, and may become leathery. Don’t snip or prune away leaves above pods.

Beans and peas form pods before forming seeds. If there are no seeds in the pods, the problem may be that the plants are just too young. Wait a little longer for the beans to mature.