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When to Plant Lima Beans in Grant County, OK

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.

Grant County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 564 feet, Grant County receives approximately 25.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lima Beans during the growing season.

Grant County, OK (Zone 6b) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 6

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.

Soil Compatibility in Grant County

How your county's soil matches Lima Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.2) overlaps with Lima Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Grant County is excellent for Lima Beans โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Lima Beans.

How to Plant Lima Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lima Beans

3
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 29 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 760 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Lima Beans

Lima Beans needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lima Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 2.9" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.1" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Grant County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lima Beans Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lima Beans needs ~1,256 GDD — county provides 3,333 GDD Excellent fit

Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, OK

Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 9
Harvest June 20 Jun 20 โ€“ Aug 1

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 Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

199 days in Grant County

Growing Tips for Lima Beans in Grant County

Direct sow Lima Beans outdoors after April 11 in Grant County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Lima Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lima Beans in Grant County, OK?

Grant County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, OK?

Grant County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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