Blog

When to Plant Christmas Lima Beans in Campbell County, WY

Campbell County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

May to-do list for Campbell County, Wyoming

Each item below is timed to Campbell County, Wyoming's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 20
Soil temp (4") 30°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Seed christmas lima beans outdoors

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

Get ahead of June
  • Transplants going out: christmas lima beans

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Campbell County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 8,132 feet, Campbell County receives approximately 22.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Christmas Lima Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Campbell County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20
Share this guide:

Campbell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Aug 20 – Sep 24
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Sep 13 – Oct 18

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 Campbell County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.6) is more alkaline than Christmas Lima Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Campbell County is excellent for Christmas Lima Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). Annual compost additions will help Christmas Lima Beans.

How to Plant Christmas Lima Beans

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 313 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Christmas Lima Beans

Christmas Lima Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Christmas Lima Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Campbell County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Christmas 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Christmas Lima Beans needs ~1,102 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Timeline — Campbell County, WY

Christmas Lima Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 17
Direct Sow May 27 May 27 – Jun 17
Harvest August 26 Aug 26 – Sep 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
Share this guide:

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

80–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

123 days in Campbell County

Growing Tips for Christmas Lima Beans in Campbell County

Direct sow Christmas Lima Beans outdoors after May 20 in Campbell County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Campbell County receives only 22" of rain annually. Christmas Lima Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Christmas Lima Beans in Campbell County, WY?

Campbell County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Christmas Lima Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Campbell County, WY?

Campbell County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 20.

🌱

Your Campbell County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Campbell County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Campbell County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.