When to plant Lima beans

The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: lima beans
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Feb 1 – Apr 15
Feb 8Feb 10 – May 1
Feb 18Mar 1 – May 1
Feb 28Mar 15 – June 1
Mar 10Mar 20 – June 1
Mar 20Apr 1 – June 15
Mar 30Apr 15 – June 20
Apr 10Apr 1 – June 30
Apr 20May 1 – June 20
Apr 30May 15 – June 15
May 10May 25 – June 15
May 20Not listed
May 30Not listed
June 10Not listed
Latest safe fall planting dates: lima beans
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30Not listed
Sept 10Not listed
Sept 20Not listed
Sept 30June 1 – 15
Oct 10June 1 – 15
Oct 20June 15 – 30
Oct 30July 1 – Aug 1
Nov 10July 1 – Aug 15
Nov 20July 15 – Sept 1
Nov 30Aug 1 – Sept 15
Dec 10Sept 1 – 30
Dec 20Sept 1 – Oct 1

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Lima Beans by state