Lima Bean

Fabaceae

HEAT-SENSITIVE PARADOX: needs warm soil to germinate (65°F+) but will NOT set pods above 80°F. Drops blooms in extreme heat. Mid-summer production gap in most zones. Bush and pole types available. Fordhook 242: 75 days, large beans, most heat/drought tolerant. Henderson Bush: 65-70 days, small beans, quick. Requires Lima-specific Rhizobium inoculant.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

60–80 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Yes

5+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–14 days

Optimal Temp 77°F

Seed Depth 1"

Watering

Weekly Water 1 "

Needs Moderate

Soil

pH Range 6–7

Resilience

Heat: Medium Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Harvest

Pods plump with visible seeds, still green. Shell before eating.

Storage Harvest for fresh shelling when seeds are plump but still tender; allow pods to dry on plant for dry beans.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Silver queen sweet corn Classic companion; beans can benefit from corn as a living trellis in mixed plantings.

Avoid Planting Near

Green onion scallion Alliums are commonly listed as poor companions for beans.

Softneck garlic Alliums are commonly listed as poor companions for beans.

Sources

university Iowa State Extension university University of Arkansas Extension — Beans (FSA-6003) university Virginia Cooperative Extension — Companion Planting in Gardening (SPES-620) university UC Master Gardener Program (UC Davis) — Companion Planting Chart

More Vegetables

Lima Bean Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Lima Bean vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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