I don't know about lima beans. But I would say you are pretty well in the ball park on the Blue Lakes- if they produce anything like Top Crop does, which I have grown for two with good results off about 30-40 plants for regular fresh eating, freezing, and several jars of pickled dilly beans.

Many thanks Beesneeds!

If they do produce like yours did I'll be asking for your pickled dilly beans recipe --it sounds intriguing and delicious and I've never heard of it before!

I use the recipe from Food in Jars, but I punch it up a smidge with a bit more herbs.

makes 4 pint jars.

2 pounds green beans

2 1/2 cups white vinegar

1/4 cup pickling salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 teaspoons dill seed

4 garlic cloves peeled

I usually also add in 2-3 sprigs of fresh dill per jar, and double to triple the cloves of garlic- we all fight over the pickled garlic at the bottom of the jar, lol.

Prepare your jars, sterilize them. Boil up your vinegar and salt together to make a brine. Once your jars are prepped, put into each jar 1/4 t cayenne, 1 t dill seed, one clove garlic (or more if using more)- and pack with fresh raw beans. Tuck your dill weed, if using, down along the sides so it looks pretty.

Pour in your vinegar brine, leaving 1/2 inch headroom. Wipe rims, cap up jars, and process for 5 minutes. Let sit for at least 2 weeks before eating.

I like using this recipe because it does not require a huge heap of beans, and can be made up and done pretty fast because it's a small batch of small jars.

I planted 36 blue lakes at a time and found I had enough for maybe two meals/week for the 4ish weeks of production. At the time I was only feeding two adults. Pick can't help much with the others, but that at least five you an idea for one type!