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When to Plant Lima Beans in Rich County, UT

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.

Rich County, Utah is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost is September 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 107 days.

At an elevation of 5,803 feet, Rich County receives approximately 18 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Lima Beans to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Lima Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Rich County, UT (Zone 4b) Short season
107 days
Last Spring Frost May 31
107 growing days
First Fall Frost September 15

Rich County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 22 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Oct 5

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 335 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Lima Beans needs ~806 GDD — county provides 1,150 GDD Excellent fit

Lima Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Rich County, UT

Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 14 Jun 14 โ€“ Jul 5
Harvest August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Sep 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Direct Sow
July Direct Sow
August Harvest
September Harvest
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 4b

Growing Season

107 days

Growing Tips for Rich 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lima Beans in Rich County, UT?

Rich County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 31. Plan your Lima Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rich County, UT?

Rich County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 31 and first fall frost is September 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Rich County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Rich County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.