When to plant Lima beans in Iowa

In spring, from Apr 1 – June 30 in Burlington to May 15 – June 15 in Waverly.

In fall, from June 1 – 15 in Altoona to June 15 – 30 in West Des Moines.

USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Lima beans planting dates by place in Iowa
PlaceSpringFall
AltoonaMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
AmesMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
AnkenyMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
BettendorfMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
BooneMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BurlingtonApr 1 – June 30June 15 – 30
CarrollMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Cedar FallsMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Cedar RapidsMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
ClintonMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
CliveMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
CoralvilleMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Council BluffsMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
DavenportMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Des MoinesMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
DubuqueMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Fort DodgeMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
GrimesMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
IndianolaMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
Iowa CityMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
JohnstonMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Le MarsMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MarionMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MarshalltownMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Mason CityMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MuscatineMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
NewtonMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
North LibertyMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
NorwalkMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
OskaloosaMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
OttumwaMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
PellaMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Pleasant HillMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
Sioux CityMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
SpencerMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Storm LakeMay 1 – June 20June 1 – 15
UrbandaleMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
WaterlooMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WaukeeMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30
WaverlyMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
West Des MoinesMay 1 – June 20June 15 – 30

Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for lima beans.