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When to Plant Lima Beans in Marshall County, KS

Lima beans are a warm-season legume producing large, creamy beans with a buttery texture. Both bush and pole varieties are available, with pole types yielding more.

Marshall County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 840 feet, Marshall County receives approximately 22.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Lima Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Marshall County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Marshall County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 17

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
0.5″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,411 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Lima Beans needs ~975 GDD — county provides 2,275 GDD Excellent fit

Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Marshall County, KS

Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 20
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May 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

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

175 days

Growing Tips for Marshall County

Direct sow after soil is thoroughly warm at 65F or above. Do not soak seeds before planting as they may crack. Harvest when pods are plump but still green for fresh limas.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lima Beans in Marshall County, KS?

Marshall County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Marshall County, KS?

Marshall County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Marshall 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 Marshall County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.