Christmas Lima Bean

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweet, creamy beans with a festive, holiday-ready look—Christmas Lima Bean delivers tender, buttery flavor and a velvety bite that feels made for the first spoonful.

Pods mature to a richly festive presence, and the seeds develop into plump, pale-green to cream kernels that cook up luxuriously soft. Grow this Lima Bean for comforting potfuls, hearty purées, and spoonable sides that celebrate the season from garden to table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Christmas Lima Bean

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Christmas Lima Bean cooks up with a plush, creamy center that doesn’t need much coaxing—just enough heat to smooth out the starchy interior. Treat them like a spoon-food: braise or purée with fat and aromatics, then brighten at the end with lemon so the sweetness stays singing.

Best Uses

buttery pot of limas—cook until barely tender, then finish with a knob of butter
thick, smooth purée (like a rustic spread) with a little cooking liquid to loosen
slow-braised beans in pork fat or stock until they turn luxuriously soft
warm bean salad where limas hold their creamy bite under vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

buttery, sweet-forward legume flavor creamy interior with a velvety, spoonable texture gentle starchy richness that takes on braising liquids well

Kitchen Pairings

garlic bacon or pancetta smoked paprika fresh thyme lemon butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Phaseolus lunatus (Christmas Lima Bean), and how can I prevent it?

Lima beans are especially prone to fungal leaf diseases like rust and leaf spot when leaves stay wet, and they can also suffer from aphids that weaken plants and spread problems. Water at the soil line and avoid overhead watering, then remove heavily spotted leaves and improve airflow by spacing plants properly. If you see early leaf spot or rust, apply a labeled garden fungicide promptly and repeat as directed, focusing on protecting new growth.

How often should I water Christmas Lima Bean during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I keep?

During flowering and pod fill (roughly mid-season to about 70–80 days), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Check by feel: the top 1–2 inches should be lightly moist, not drying out completely or staying waterlogged. Reduce watering slightly once pods mature to help avoid rotting.

How do I know when Christmas Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are well-filled and the beans are tender for “green” lima use, typically around 90 days from sowing. For dried beans, let pods dry on the plant until they rattle and the seed is hard, then shell and finish drying indoors. If you’re unsure, open a pod: green beans should be bright and creamy, while mature/dry beans should feel firm and not easily dent.