King of the Garden Lima Bean
King of the Garden lima bean is a classic pole lima and a true heirloom favorite. This open-pollinated variety was introduced in the early 1900s and earned its royal name from the enormous size of its beans and prolific yields. Home gardeners love them for their rich, buttery flavor and tender texture. The vines are vigorous climbers (growing 6–10 feet tall) yet are easy to manage on a trellis or fence.
This is an annual heirloom seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11.
Each packet will have a little over 40 seeds.
King of the Garden lima bean is a classic pole lima and a true heirloom favorite. This open-pollinated variety was introduced in the early 1900s and earned its royal name from the enormous size of its beans and prolific yields. Home gardeners love them for their rich, buttery flavor and tender texture. The vines are vigorous climbers (growing 6–10 feet tall) yet are easy to manage on a trellis or fence.
This is an annual heirloom seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11.
Each packet will have a little over 40 seeds.
King of the Garden lima bean is a classic pole lima and a true heirloom favorite. This open-pollinated variety was introduced in the early 1900s and earned its royal name from the enormous size of its beans and prolific yields. Home gardeners love them for their rich, buttery flavor and tender texture. The vines are vigorous climbers (growing 6–10 feet tall) yet are easy to manage on a trellis or fence.
This is an annual heirloom seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11.
Each packet will have a little over 40 seeds.
Growing Instructions
This variety is well-suited for warm-season growing. It thrives in full sun and loves heat once established. Provide rich, well-draining soil and a sturdy support (like a trellis or bean teepee) for the plant's tall pole vines to climb. Plant the large seeds about 1"–1.5" deep and 6" apart. Lima beans prefer warmer nights, so in cooler spring weather germination may be slow. For best results, guide the vines onto your support/trellis early, and pinch the tips if they outgrow their support.
Harvest, Storage, and Use
You’ll know that your limas are ready to harvest when the pods are well-filled and plump but still green. Typically, pods mature about 90–100 days after planting. For fresh "green" lima beans, pick the pods when they are bright green and the beans inside have swelled. Hold the vine with one hand and pull off pods with the other to avoid yanking the plant. Shell the beans from the pods and enjoy them fresh or cook them. If you want dried lima beans, leave pods on the vine until they turn tan and papery. Then shell and thoroughly dry the beans in a cool, dry place for storage. Store fresh, unshelled pods in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shelled beans can be frozen or canned as well.
Limas are great additions to stews, mashed into dips, or seasoned fresh with herbs for a nutritious treat. Their high protein and fiber make them as healthy as they are tasty.
| 👍 Good companions | Corn (benefits from bean vines and nitrogen), squash (providing shade), marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, catnip and summer savory (repel pests), radishes (improve soil for beans), cucumbers and eggplants (grow well alongside beans) | ||
| 👎 Bad companions | Fennel, gladiolus, and alliums such as garlic, onions, chives, leeks, and shallots (inhibit growth), peppers (can harbor pests) | ||
| Growing zones | 3-11 | Crop type | Annual |
| Crop difficulty | Mid | Seed type | Heirloom |
| Sowing method | Direct Sow | Containers? | Large / Bed |
| Sun req. | Full Sun | Ideal soil temp. | 70-80°F |
| Days to germination | 7-14 days | Days to maturity | 75-90 days |
| Seed spacing | 6"-8"" | Row spacing | 24"-36" |
| Seed depth | 1" | Needs support? | Yes |