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When to Plant Lima Beans in Greater Sudbury, ON

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.

Greater Sudbury, Ontario is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 167 days.

At an elevation of 1,141 feet, Greater Sudbury receives approximately 29.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 77ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Lima Beans to ensure they mature before fall. Clay soil retains moisture well for Lima Beans, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Greater Sudbury, ON (Zone 5b) Moderate season
167 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
167 growing days
First Fall Frost October 8

Greater Sudbury Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Greater Sudbury, ON

Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 1 May 1 โ€“ May 22
Harvest July 3 Jul 3 โ€“ Aug 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

167 days in Greater Sudbury

Growing Tips for Greater Sudbury

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 Greater Sudbury, ON?

Greater Sudbury is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Greater Sudbury, ON?

Greater Sudbury, Ontario is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 8.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Greater Sudbury 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 Greater Sudbury, ON. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.