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When to Plant Christmas Lima Beans in Jewell County, KS

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.

Jewell County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 179 days.

At an elevation of 551 feet, Jewell County receives approximately 24.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Christmas Lima Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Jewell County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
179 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
179 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15

Jewell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Sep 12

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 808 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Christmas Lima Beans needs ~1,170 GDD — county provides 2,327 GDD Excellent fit

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Jewell County, KS

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 17
Harvest July 26 Jul 26 โ€“ Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April 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 5b

Growing Season

179 days

Growing Tips for Jewell 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Christmas Lima Beans in Jewell County, KS?

Jewell County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Christmas Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jewell County, KS?

Jewell County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 15.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jewell County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Jewell County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.