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How to Grow Lima Beans UK | Regional Planting Calendar
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In the UK, lima beans go in the ground mid May to early July, and are ready to harvest 60–105 days after planting.
Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) — annual.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from mid May in Scotland to mid May in Northern England.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Magic Garden Seeds: sow outdoors after last frost risk (mid-May) until early July; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and this heat-loving, frost-tender crop needs warm soil regardless of region.
Southern England - detail & sources
Magic Garden Seeds: sow outdoors after last frost risk (mid-May) until early July; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and this heat-loving, frost-tender crop needs warm soil regardless of region.
Midlands - detail & sources
Magic Garden Seeds: sow outdoors after last frost risk (mid-May) until early July; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and this heat-loving, frost-tender crop needs warm soil regardless of region.
Northern England - detail & sources
Magic Garden Seeds: sow outdoors after last frost risk (mid-May) until early July; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and this heat-loving, frost-tender crop needs warm soil regardless of region.
Sow outdoors after all frost risk has passed and soil has warmed to at least 24C, about 2.5cm deep; optimal germination around 29C (Johnny's Selected Seeds).
Establishment and earthing up
1
Earth up around the base once plants reach about 15cm tall for extra stability; grow in a warm, sunny, well-drained spot that cannot tolerate wet soil (Magic Garden Seeds).
Flowering and pod set
6
Bush varieties flower and set pods over a shorter season (60-80 days total); pole varieties take longer (85-90 days total) (Magic Garden Seeds).
Pod filling and harvest
8
Pick pods for fresh shelling once beans are plump and clearly bulging; main harvest typically in September-October in the UK (Johnny's Selected Seeds, Magic Garden Seeds).
When to pick: UMD/Delaware: variety-dependent maturity, e.g. Fordhook 242 (bush) 65 days, Henderson bush 60-75 days, King of the Garden (pole) 105 days.
Alabama Extension: "Lima beans are particularly susceptible" to anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum); most noticeable on pods as sunken reddish-brown-bordered spots.
Heavy populations stunt plants by withdrawing large volumes of sap and delaying maturity. Once the weather warms, natural enemies usually bring them under control on their own.
Slugs
Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)
RHS French bean guide lists slugs and snails among French bean pests. [RHS pest notes reference "Phaseolus" genus generally; reused for lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus).]
Snails
Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)
RHS French bean guide lists slugs and snails among French bean pests. [RHS pest notes reference "Phaseolus" genus generally; reused for lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus).]
Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Glasshouse red spider mite (two-spotted spider mite)
medium
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny specks on leaf undersides; lightly infested leaves show whitish speckling, heavily infested ones turn pale yellow or bronze and dry up. In hot dry weather a generation can complete in as few as eight days, which…
Lesser cornstalk borer
medium
Elasmopalpus lignosellus
Larvae bore into the stalk near the soil line and tunnel up and down it; damaged plants become stunted, wither and die. Moths move out of field corn as it dries and into late-sown beans, so late plantings after 1 July…
Bean seed fly
Delia platura; Delia florilega
RHS: bean seed fly affects "Seedling French and runner beans". The RHS French bean guide also names bean seed fly among its pests. [RHS pest notes reference "Phaseolus" genus generally; reused for lima bean (Phaseolus…
Blackfly (black bean aphid)
Aphis fabae species group
RHS: blackfly affects "broad, French and runner beans". The RHS French bean guide also names blackfly (black bean aphid) among its pests. [RHS pest notes reference "Phaseolus" genus generally; reused for lima bean…
Bean leaf beetle
medium
Cerotoma trifurcata
Damage is twofold: stems girdled near the soil line, and large irregular holes chewed in the leaves. Early-season damage can thin the stand outright.
Corn earworm
medium
Helicoverpa zea
Chews holes in foliage but prefers the pods. Clemson's action threshold is 5% of pods damaged, or one larva per 3 feet of row. Mainly a problem on late plantings.
Tarnished plant bug
medium
Lygus lineolaris
Withdraws sap and injects toxic saliva, which can halt development of blooms and young pods and leaves dark spots on older pods. Most important at full bloom, and late-planted beans are highly susceptible. Threshold:…
Thrips
medium
Thysanoptera
Their presence in flowers at early bloom interferes with pollination -- Clemson puts the threshold at three thrips per flower -- and the result is defectively shaped pods rather than obvious leaf damage. Aluminium foil…
Southern green stink bug
medium
Nezara viridula
Feeds on pods in preference to leaves, sucking juices and injecting toxins; snap bean pods show clear or water-soaked areas, and inside the pod the developing beans brown as the toxins and introduced yeasts take hold.…
Mexican bean beetle
high
Epilachna varivestis
Both larvae and adults feed on leaf undersides, leaving the veins and giving the leaf a skeletonized, lacy look. Egg to adult takes about a month and there are usually three generations a year, so numbers build fast.…
Lima Bean, a Heat-Loving Climber from the Americas
Tier 1. Carries action thresholds rather than only descriptions: three thrips per flower may interfere with pollination and cause defectively shaped pods; corn earworm warrants treatment at 5% damaged pods or one larva per 3 ft of row; tarnished plant bug at one bug per 6 ft of row; stink bugs at one per 10 ft on snap beans and one per 15 ft on lima beans, which are more sensitive. Mexican bean beetle completes egg-to-adult in about a month with three generations a year, and Wade and Black Valentine are resistant or tolerant. Lesser cornstalk borer causes 30-50% stand loss on late plantings after 1 July on sandy soil in hot dry conditions. Spider mites can complete a generation in as few as eight days in hot dry weather.
Sow about 3in apart, 1in deep, in rows 18-36in apart, in a warm, well-drained location, after soil reaches at least 75F (24C); optimal soil temperature for germination is around 85F (29C), optimal growing temperature 70-80F (21-27C). Requires more heat than standard bush beans and performs poorly in cool seasons. Pick for fresh shelling when beans are plump and bulge inside the pods.
11 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow lima beans in the UK?
In Scotland, from mid May. In Northern England, wait until mid May. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow lima beans?
Sow mid May to early July, at around 18°C for germination.
How long do lima beans take to grow?
Typically 60–105 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do lima beans need?
A pH of about 5.5–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect lima beans?
Our data links 2 diseases and 13 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.
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