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A bush lima bean plant with broad flat pods and pale green shelled butter beans

How to Grow Lima Beans From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Lima beans, also known as butter beans, are the creamy, buttery shelling bean worth waiting for. This is a bush lima that needs no trellis, but it does ask for more warmth and a longer season than snap beans, so patience with the weather pays off. Give it a hot, sunny bed and about 75 days, and it rewards you with broad pods full of smooth, mild, nutty beans. Here is what makes this variety special and how to get the best from it.

This is the quick guide to Lima. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting beans, see our complete guide to growing beans from seed.

Quick start

Wait for truly warm soil, at least 65 to 70F, before direct-sowing lima seeds 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart; cold ground rots them. Thin the bush plants and keep them weeded, no trellis needed. Limas take longer than snap beans, about 75 days to maturity. Harvest once the broad pods feel full and firm, then shell out the plump beans inside.

Best tip

Limas are the most heat-loving bean, so give them your warmest, sunniest bed and plenty of season. Never rush the seeds into cool soil, where they simply rot. In cool-summer or short-season regions, pre-warm the ground with black plastic and start with the earliest bush lima you can find; in the hot South, limas thrive and can be one of the most productive summer crops you grow.

At a glance

How to Grow Lima Beans From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Phaseolus lunatus
Plant type	Warm-season annual legume (bush lima)
USDA zones	3 to 12 (grown as a warm-season annual)
Sun	Full sun (6 to 8+ hours)
Days to maturity	~75 days from sowing (shelling)
Height	About 24 inches
Spacing	3 to 4 inches apart; rows 18 to 24 inches
Water	Steady and even; keep soil evenly moist

Uses

Lima beans, or butter beans, are a shelling bean prized for their smooth, creamy texture and mild, buttery flavor. Shell the plump beans from their broad pods and enjoy them fresh in succotash, soups, and stews, or let some pods dry on the plant for a storable pantry bean. Limas freeze and can very well, making them a rewarding crop to grow in quantity.

Frequently asked questions

How long do lima beans take to mature?

Lima beans need a longer, warmer season than snap beans, typically about 75 days from sowing to the first harvest. Wait for truly warm soil before planting, since cold ground slows or rots the seeds.

What do lima beans look and taste like?

Lima beans, also called butter beans, are broad and flat with a pale green to cream color. Shelled from their wide pods, they have a smooth, buttery texture and a mild, creamy, slightly nutty flavor.

How are lima beans best used?

Lima beans are a shelling bean, so you eat the seeds rather than the pod. Enjoy them fresh in succotash, soups, and stews, or let some pods dry on the plant for storage. They also freeze and can very well.

Any tips for growing lima beans?

Give limas plenty of warmth and a long season, and do not rush them into cold soil. This is a bush lima, so it needs no trellis. Harvest when the pods feel full and firm, and pick regularly to encourage the plant to keep setting more.

Ready to grow your own? Heirloom lima bean seeds reward a warm, sunny season with creamy, buttery beans perfect for succotash and stews. For the full step-by-step, see our complete bean growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Want more beans? These value packs pair limas with other varieties:

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.