Legumes
Lima bean
A warm-season bean grown for broad pods containing large, flat edible seed.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Jan,Oct-Dec
Core months: January, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow · Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
Core months: January, February, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Jan-Apr,Aug-Dec
Core months: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December
Tropical
Sow · Feb-Oct
Core months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Arid
Sow · Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
Core months: January, February, September, October, November, December
Getting started
Sow seed in the recorded window into warm soil, preferably where it will grow. Transplant only young seedlings and minimise root disturbance.
The right conditions
Choose full sun, warmth and freely draining soil. Climbing forms need a tall, strong trellis; protect all forms from frost.
As it grows
Keep moisture steady during flowering and seed fill, guide climbing stems onto supports and avoid excessive nitrogen that favours leaves over pods.
Ready to harvest
Shell fresh beans from plump green pods for immediate cooking, or allow pods to dry fully for storage seed. Do not eat the pods.
Important cautions
Lima beans must be thoroughly cooked and the cooking water discarded; never eat raw or undercooked seed. This record is for Phaseolus lunatus, not generic climbing beans.
Plant guidance: P11b Wave 2 propagation, safety and plant-specific guide audit. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.