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When to Plant Christmas Lima Beans in Posey County, IN

Christmas lima beans are a large, beautifully marbled heirloom bean with a rich, chestnut-like flavor. They are a climbing variety that produces generously in warm weather.

Posey County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 596 feet, Posey County receives approximately 40.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Christmas Lima Beans during the growing season.

Posey County, IN (Zone 6b) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Posey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 31

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 360 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Christmas Lima Beans needs ~1,305 GDD — county provides 2,943 GDD Excellent fit

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Posey County, IN

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 11 Feb 11 โ€“ Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 6
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest July 15 Jul 15 โ€“ Aug 19

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

80โ€“100 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

203 days

Growing Tips for Posey County

Direct sow after soil is warm. Provide tall trellising for vigorous vines. Harvest for fresh shelling when pods are plump or allow to dry on the vine for storage.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Christmas Lima Beans in Posey County, IN?

Posey County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Christmas Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Posey County, IN?

Posey County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 28.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Posey County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Posey County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.