Christmas Lima

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweetly fragrant at harvest, Christmas Lima brings a creamy, buttery richness with a gentle, nutty finish—beans that feel velvety and substantial in the pod.

The mature seeds develop a festive, holiday-ready look while holding their shape beautifully, making them a favorite for hearty, spoonable dishes and comforting purées. Grow this classic market lima for dependable performance and a satisfying harvest you’ll look forward to all season long.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Christmas Lima

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	Vine
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’s mature seeds go tender with a velvety, buttery mouthfeel, so they love low-and-slow heat where they can drink in stock and fat. Use citrus late to keep them bright, and they’ll reward you with spoonable comfort that doesn’t collapse into mush.

Best Uses

slow-simmered succotash-style beans that stay spoonable
thick purée for a silky side or bean “mashed” base
braises or stews where the beans soak up fat and stock without turning grainy
simple pan-cooked beans finished with herbs and a squeeze of citrus

Flavor Profile

creamy, buttery richness gentle sweetness with a nutty finish velvety, substantial bite

Kitchen Pairings

bacon or pork belly garlic olive oil or cultured butter smoked paprika or black pepper lemon thyme

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue commonly affects Phaseolus lunatus (Christmas lima beans), and how can I fix it?

Watch for common bean diseases like angular leaf spot and rust, which show as small, water-soaked spots or orange-brown pustules on leaves after humid weather. Remove badly infected leaves, avoid overhead watering, and water at the base to keep foliage dry; if problems persist, use a labeled copper-based fungicide early at the first signs. For pests, check regularly for aphids and spider mites, and knock them off with a strong spray or treat with insecticidal soap while plants are still small.

How often should I water Christmas lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod-filling (roughly weeks 4–10), keep soil consistently evenly moist but not waterlogged. In most home gardens that means watering deeply about 1–2 times per week, increasing to 2–3 times per week during hot, dry spells, with the goal of moist soil in the top 6–8 inches. Stop short of soggy beds because lima beans in Fabaceae are prone to root stress and disease when soil stays saturated.

When are Christmas lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) ready to harvest?

For fresh (green) lima beans, harvest when pods are fully filled and beans inside are tender and can be pierced easily with a fingernail, typically around 90 days from sowing. For dry shell beans, leave pods on the plant until foliage yellows and pods rattle when shaken, then dry them further indoors if needed before storing. Pick green beans frequently to keep plants producing and avoid pods overskewing into tough, overmature texture.